Portland Timbers Star Fanendo Adi Delighted With Maiden Nigeria Call Up

Portland Timbers striker Fanendo Adi has expressed his gladness at his invitation to the national team for the first time in his career and thinks he has some qualities that he can bring to the squad.

The 25-year-old has no international caps for Nigeria at any level but trained with the Golden Eaglets before his transfer to AS Trencin in Slovakia.

“It  feels amazing, it is great to be in the national team, it is a privilege and honor to wear the green and white shirt, absolutely amazing,” Fanendo Adi told allnigeriasoccer.com.

“My sister’s husband is the first to tell me, he actually woke me up but for sure it was more than worth it.”

Adi added : “We can all add something positive to the growth of the team. On my part the coach has the final decision to make on how to play the players but I believe I can add something positive to the team.

“We all work to win for the team,so what I can bring is of course to help us win as that’s the most important aspect of the game, winning.”

The former FC Copenhagen man had been on the radar of the national team coaches after plundering 25 goals (7 assists) in 57 games since his switch to Major League Soccer in 2014.

“Not at all, I mean there wasn’t a way for me to know if I was going to be involved. There wasn’t contact with the coaches but it feels good to wake up to such great news.”

Adi and the 19 other foreign-based professionals called up have been instructed to report to the Bolton White Apartments camp of the Super Eagles as from Sunday, March 20.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel