Portugal-based defender Isaac James has shared how emotional he felt when he got his first Super Eagles call-up. He admits that the invitation came sooner than he thought.
The 22-year-old Alverca defender had a great season in Portugal, but a call from Nigeria coach Éric Chelle surprised him completely.
For James, this call-up was not just another step in his career. It was the dream he has had since he started playing football.
“I was doing well at the season, you know, but I didn’t expect to get a call-up immediately because I know it’s my dream to be here,” James told Super Eagles Media.
“So when the coach called me, I was so surprised because I didn’t expect it to be so soon. But I’m really happy to be here.
“For me, I actually cried. I can’t lie because I’ve been dreaming, you know, to play in the national team.”
James is one of three new players in Nigeria’s squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. This gives him a chance to make his senior international debut almost right after his first call-up.
The defender said his family’s reaction made the moment even more special.
“I started seeing a lot of posts about it. Even my brothers and my sister started sending me posts, you know, like, “Ah, is it true? Are you going for the national team?” he said.
“I was like, ah, yeah, I get a call-up, you know.”
His club, Alverca, was also happy about the news. James believes he is the first Nigerian player from the Portuguese club to be called up to the senior national team.
“My club was also so happy because I think I’m the first, you know, Nigerian guy there to go to the national team. So yeah, everyone was so happy. I got a lot of calls.”
James’ path to joining the Super Eagles has not been easy.
He began with Garden City Panthers before moving to France, where he joined Lyon FC. Getting into the first team was not easy.
“I started from Lyon FC in France, and it was difficult there,” he said.
“I couldn’t start immediately with the first team, so I spent like three seasons there, and I went to Portugal.”
Moving to Portugal allowed James to showcase his skills.
His good performances with Alverca earned him regular chances and caught the attention of the Super Eagles coaching staff.
James said playing in Portugal has helped him improve as a player.
“From there, I get the opportunity to show my talent and the league, it’s hard,” he said.
“Some people call it maybe the farmer’s league. For me, it’s competitive, and I was doing well there. The challenge was good for me. It was amazing.”
James’ ability to play in different positions has helped him succeed in Portugal.
He mainly plays as a left-back but can also play as a wing-back or left-sided centre-back. This gives Chelle more options in defense.
James believes his speed and ability to help in both attack and defense are among his strengths.
“Surely for me, I like playing attack and defending at the same time,” he said. “So for me personally, I’m fast.”
This skill set could be important for Nigeria as Chelle looks at different options for the national team.
But for James, the main focus is to make the most of a chance he once only dreamed about.
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