John Ogu is one of the foreign based players invited to play for Nigeria against Kenya.

The new invitee to the Super Eagles of Nigeria, and Academica FC midfielder, John Ogu has said he intends to put in his best in all the games he will play as part of the Super Eagles squad for the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers.

Ogu, who spoke exclusively to PREMIUM TIMES from his base in Portugal, said he is happy to be invited to play for the national team.

“I feel great and I am happy for the invitation that was extended to me by Stephen Keshi, it’s a great privilege and a dream come true in my football career,” he said. “I expect to give my best to the nation, they should believe in me since I have been invited to camp and I promise to do my best.”

The midfielder, who never played club football in the Nigeria football league, said he believes his performance for his Portuguese club was what earned him a national call.

“I am just like any other hardworking player, like we all see we are in the building process of the national team and I’m glad to be part of it.

“I was called upon because of my performance and hard work and I’m excited about it,” he said.

Ogu, determined to play for Nigeria, said his club can’t stop him from playing for his country.

“This is going to be my first cap; definitely they (club) will allow me. They have received the invitation letter; they can’t stop me from playing for my country,” he said.

Ogu’s career

Ogu also spoke briefly on his football history.

“I have never played a Nigerian League before, I was an academy player in Festac – Lagos; the academy is called flying sport academy. They took me to a club in Slovenia and I spent four years there, after that I went to Almena in Spain but I couldn’t play there because of an injury and from there I joined Academica of Portugal in June last year,” he said.

Ogu is one of the foreign-based invitees expected to arrive the Eagles Camp for the March 23 World Cup Qualifier against Kenya in Calabar.