Papa Daniel says he was shocked to realise that he was included in Eric Chelle’s provisional squad for the World Cup qualifiers.
The Niger Tornadoes winger also expressed his shock and excitement when he made it to the 23-man list as well.
He added that he was just working hard at his club and didnt expect to be invited to the national team even though he was part of the CHAN Eagles squad that secured qualification for the 2025 African Nations Championship.
I never, I never expected it. I was just, I was just doing my thing, you know, I was just doing my thing and I just, I don’t even know, you know, when I, when I saw the provisional list, I was, I was shocked. I was like, oh, okay. And when I saw the trinitarium list, I was like, whoa, I was very, very happy. Thanks to God, because it’s not easy for me to be here.
And it’s, and seeing the big boys in camp, and being my, like, my first time, like, in the Super Eagle, I was like, I’m very, very happy. And seeing them around is a motivation for me, like, to, you know, to do more, and like, to show them what I have, and be humble.
The winger also revealed the foreign based players have helped him to settle in camp. He says they have been warm and very welcoming.
If given the opportunity to play in any of the matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, Papa Daniel vows to show Nigeria and the World what he is capable of.
They’re all friendly like they’re like they encourage everyone like we the like the home base we never felt like okay yeah we are not like among them and this is not like our first time to me yeah I know I know we have uh everything like we have the the qualities of players we can and I just pray like for the luck it’s just that’s just like just the luck I’ll be first i’ll be very very happy if I have the chance and I’ll show the I’ll show Nigeria and the world who I am and what I can do.
I love all good footballers when I see you play and i know I can learn something from you I just okay hard like I admire like them like okay yeah I can learn and I pick things I know how to like I need to learn and just do for myself.
Papa Daniel plays as a right winger and attacking midfielder for Nigeria Tornadoes in the Nigeria Premier Football League.
The 23-year-old has four goals in 18 matches this season.
