One of the highlights of Eric Chelle’s latest Super Eagles squad announcement is the Franco-Malian’s decision to hand maiden international call ups to the likes of Emmanuel Fernandez, Philip Otele and Collins Yira Sor, Footynaija.com reports.
The Super Eagles will return to on-pitch action once again for the first time since the conclusion of their largely impressive Africa Cup of Nations campaign with friendly fixtures against Jordan and Iran later this month and head coach Chelle has decided to inject some fresh blood into his setup.
In this piece, we’ll be taking a closer look at these new Eagles and how they played their way into earning a first international call up.
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3. Collins Yira Sor
Sor is an exciting right-footed winger who currently plies his trade in the Belgian Pro League with Genk. He has enjoyed a decent campaign so far at the Cegeka Arena, registering eight goal contributions in 37 appearances this term.
The 25-year-old forward experienced international football at youth level, having been part of Nigeria’s squad to the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup which took place in Poland. In that tournament, he made a couple of appearances as the Flying Eagles bowed out in the round of 16.
Sor enters the Super Eagles setup with plenty of experience under his belt and his versatility across both flanks as well as in the left side of midfield could prove to be a key asset for any team. It’ll be interesting to see how handles competition from more experienced internationals like Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman.
2. Philip Otele
Another new face on the flanks, Otele currently turns out for Hamburger SV. He joined the Bundesliga outfit as recently as the January transfer window and is still finding his feet at the club but his overall development as a player has definitely impressed the decision makers within the Super Eagles setup.
A versatile winger capable of playing on both flanks, Otele’s game is defined by his pace, directness and ability to cut inside to create or finish chances. He will look to offer the Super Eagles a fresh and exciting option on the right flank where he will face competition from Samuel Chukwueze and Chidera Ejuke.
The 26-year-old narrowly missed out on a place in Nigeria’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final squad list, having initially made the provisional list. Now he has the opportunity to make his mark at senior international level.
1. Emmanuel Fernandez
Arguably the most exciting new addition to the ranks of the Super Eagles, Fernandez, a 24-year-old central defender with rapidly rising stocks, is currently on the books of Scottish Premiership giants Rangers.
Fernandez wasted little time establishing himself as a key player at Ibrox after joining the Scottish outfit from Peterborough last summer. So far, he’s made 24 appearances across all competitions, scored six goals and also contributed to 10 clean sheets for the Blues.
While his attacking output is certainly eye-catching, his real strengths lie in his physicality, dominance in the air, and composure on the ball. Also, Fernandez’s ability to build play from the back perfectly fits the tactical philosophy of Super Eagles head coach Chelle.
