In a Footy-Africa exclusive, Super Eagles defender Igoh Ogbu has revealed why he turned down multiple transfer offers from top European clubs to extend his contract with Czech champions Slavia Prague.
Ogbu, 25, was one of the standout performers in Slavia’s title-winning campaign, playing a crucial role in helping the club clinch the Czech Chance Liga title ahead of rivals Viktoria Plzen and Banik Ostrava.
His rock-solid defensive displays drew interest from across Europe. Turkish giants Besiktas and Fenerbahce reportedly expressed strong interest, while French Ligue 1 outfit Olympique Lyon also monitored his situation. Despite the tempting offers, Ogbu opted to stay in Prague—and he’s now explained why.
“For me, extending my contract is a good decision and I believe it’s the best one because I understand the system and the philosophy here,” Ogbu said. “I will also be able to play in the Champions League, which is something I’ve always wanted. That’s why I decided to stay for a while before making the next step. For me, it’s the right choice.”
The former Lillestrom centre-back is already focused on the challenges ahead, especially the task of defending the league title and competing in Europe.
“The upcoming season will be tough because now we have to prepare to defend the title,” he added. “We must stay focused and continue doing what we do best. It’s also important that we gel as a team—we have new faces, so we need to understand each other and push ourselves to be even better.”
Super Eagles Breakthrough
Ogbu also recently celebrated a major career milestone—making his long-awaited senior debut for Nigeria at the Unity Cup last month.
Having previously featured for the Nigeria U-20 team at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland in 2019, he was called up for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March but didn’t get to feature. That changed at the Unity Cup, where he finally earned his first cap.
Ogbu played in the opening match against Ghana, featured in the final against Jamaica, and came off the bench in the 1–1 draw against Russia in an international friendly.
“Playing in the Unity Cup was a great experience. It was fun to play under Coach Eric Chelle, who has so much confidence in his players and a clear approach to the game,” Ogbu said. “Getting my Super Eagles debut was a dream come true. It was something I really enjoyed, and now I just want to keep gaining more experience and earning more caps.”
With a new contract, Champions League football, and his Super Eagles debut in the bag, Igoh Ogbu heads into the 2025/26 season full of belief and determination to make it his best yet.
