Former Nigeria U-17 coach Olanrewaju Daniel in an exclusive interview with Footy-Africa has praised the decision of Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle to hand Chibuike Nwaiwu a late call-up to the senior national team.
Having worked closely with Nwaiwu during his time at Enyimba, Daniel expressed pride in the defender’s development and described the national team invitation as a well-deserved milestone.
“I was excited receiving the news on Thursday evening, and for me, it is a personal victory for all the hard work on the player over the years,” Daniel, now with Rivers United FC, told Footy-Africa. “Nwaiwu was originally a defensive midfielder and played there a few times for us in Aba. However, I saw his potential as a centre-back and decided to deploy him in that position.”
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“Since then, he has gone on to excel there, even after his move to Austria. I am really happy with the progress he has made, and this invitation is a dream come true for both him and me. I hope he gets the opportunity to play and show the coaches what he can do. He is a young player who is eager to learn and improve, and this call-up is just one of many good things to come for him,” Daniel added.
The Trabzonspor defender was drafted into the squad for the international friendlies against Iran and Jordan during the current FIFA window, following the withdrawal of Calvin Bassey due to a back injury.
Nwaiwu’s inclusion comes on the back of an impressive run of form in Turkey, where he has quickly established himself since joining Trabzonspor from Wolfsberger AC in January.
The 22-year-old, who previously featured for Enyimba FC, has emerged as one of the club’s standout performers, showcasing his versatility and composure in defence.
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So far this season, Nwaiwu has made 10 league appearances for Trabzonspor, contributing two goals and one assist, an impressive return for a defender now eager to make his mark on the international stage.
