Dele-Bashiru reveals one of the biggest factors that led to Nigeria call-up, picks Man City legend as his idol

Hatayspor midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru has vowed to do his best for the Super Eagles if given minutes in their forthcoming games against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique. 

The 22-year-old underlined that one of the biggest factors that led to him being called up to the Super Eagles for the first time in his career was the coach of Hatayspor.

Approximately four years after his dreams of representing the Flying Eagles at the 2019 Fifa U20 World Cup were dashed, the Manchester City academy product is the new face in the Super Eagles squad for their October internationals. 

Dele-Bashiru is one of the favorite players of Hatayspor manager Volkan Demirel and he has repaid the coach's trust in him with a string of brilliant displays for the Güneyin Yıldızı.

In seven appearances in the Turkish Super Lig, Dele-Bashiru has registered six goal involvements.

When asked how he felt to receive his first call-up to Nigeria's senior national team, Dele-Bashiru told Turkish newspaper Hurriyet: "I am very happy and excited to receive an invitation from the Nigerian National Team. I'll go there and do my best. I will play for the Nigerian people.

"In addition, I would like to thank my teacher Volkan very much. One of the biggest factors in my being called to the national team was Volkan Hodja. Volkan Hodja trusted me and took me to his team.

"He realized my potential and put me on the field. So I did my best for him. With my performance, I was selected for the national team. Volkan Hoca also has a great influence on this, I thank him. It was an honor for me to be selected for the national team.

"My family is also very happy about this. I hope my performance will always continue like this. I will take good care of myself as much as I can, perform well and provide the support I can to Hatayspor and the Nigerian National Team."

Dele-Bashiru was on the books of Manchester City for eleven years, and played for their U18 and U21 teams, before joining Sheffield Wednesday in search of first team football.

The 22-year-old has picked Manchester City legend and four-time African Footballer of the Year, Yaya Toure as his idol.

"The football player I take as an example is Yaya Toure. Toure has been my idol since I was little.

"Yaya Toure is a midfielder who is physically very strong, fast with the ball, good at shooting and has high technical capacity. I've always felt close to him. I see Toure as an idol," added Fisayo Dele-Bashiru. 

Fisayo's elder brother, Tom Dele-Bashiru, also a product of the Manchester City academy, has caps for Nigeria at U20 and U23 levels.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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