Nigeria defender Kenneth Omeruo has shared his memories of playing in his first FIFA World Cup. He called the atmosphere and the moment one of the best in his career, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.
While working as a pundit for Sporty TV during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Omeruo talked about his feelings before Nigeria’s first match against Iran in the 2014 World Cup held in Brazil.
The 32-year-old spoke about how players keep their focus during the nervous moments before a game. He said the scene in the stadium had a big impact on him.
“During the warming up, the crowd was something amazing. It was something I haven’t seen before,” Omeruo said.
The defender also mentioned how special it was to share the dressing room and the field with some of Nigeria’s top football stars.
“I was playing with big names like Joseph Yobo, Vincent Enyeama, Mikel Obi and Osaze. Being among them at that time was not something I imagined would happen that early in my career,” he added.
Even with all the excitement of the tournament, Omeruo said his duties as a defender brought him back to reality once the match began.
“When the game started, as a defender, you have to fight for every ball and you have to win the first one.”
Omeruo was one of the key players for the Super Eagles during the 2014 World Cup. Nigeria made it to the round of 16 but lost 2-0 to France.
At just 20 years old, Omeruo played in all of Nigeria’s matches in the tournament.
He later represented Nigeria again at another World Cup in Russia in 2018.
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