Mountain of Fire Young Star Akpudje Reacts To Nigeria U23 Call-Up

Published: March 19, 2019

Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries FC youngster, Joshua Akpudje says he is excited after making the Under-23 Nigeria national team that will face Libya in a doubleheader in the Africa U23 Cup of Nations qualifying series.

Libya will host the first leg of the U23 AFCON qualifier at the Bengerdan Stadium in Tunisia on Wednesday, 20th March while the Nigerian U23 team will host the return leg five days later at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.

Akpudje, 20, who was invited to the Under 23 camp after his impressive performances for the Olukoya Boys in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) expressed his excitement after making the final squad for the AFCON qualifying matches.

Speaking in an interview shortly after the release of the 23-man team the central defender said: "I am very excited for this call up to the Under 23 national team. I want to say a big thank you to the national team head coach, coach Imama and my coach at MFM FC Fidelis Ilechukwu for believing in me and I believe we will come out in flying colours against Libya.

"I will keep on putting in my best to develop and the national team is an avenue for me as a young player to showcase my talent to the world and I believe by the special grace of God with hard work everything will work out well for the team," the FEMAK Football Academy product told MFM FC Media.

Igho Kingsley