'We are one country' - Cardiff City left-back Collins insists no competition in the Super Eagles

Cardiff City left-back Jamilu Collins has insisted that he is unfazed by the competition for a place in the starting lineup for the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Lesotho and Zimbabwe. 

For the last training camp of 2023, Nigeria manager Jose Peseiro has called up four players capable of playing in the left-back role, namely Ola Aina, Jamilu Collins, Bruno Onyemaechi and Calvin Bassey. 

Porto defender Zaidu Sanusi, unarguably first choice in the left-back position, missed out on selection due to fitness issues. 

Collins is delighted to be back in the Super Eagles fold after he pulled out of the October internationals against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique on the advice of Bluebirds manager Erol Bulut as he was struggling with a hamstring problem in the weeks leading up to the training camp in Portugal. 

"So far it has been good, the atmosphere is already great so I'm excited for this one," Collins told reporters on Monday. 

Collins is confident the Super Eagles can qualify for the 2026 World Cup and have a successful 2023 Africa Cup of Nations

"I come with a mindset with the ongoing project, the one being promoted right now, 'let's do it', so that's what we're going for right now.

"We believe our people will always support us one hundred percent, we are really grateful for the support they always show to us and it's always good to play in front of our fans here in Nigeria and we can always give them good results."

On competition for a place in the left-back position, Collins said: "To be honest in the national team there is no competition there, it's just for all of us to come here and give our best for our nation.

"Whosoever is being called to play will always give his best so I don't think there's any competition there, we are one country and ready to make our country proud so let's see how everything goes".

Nigeria begin their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with a home game against Lesotho in Uyo on Thursday, before heading to Rwanda to take on Zimbabwe on November 19.

"We are really excited, everyone being called to represent the country, we are all excited for this game. Hopefully we'll come with full power and make our people proud," Collins remarked. 

Finally, on his message to Super Eagles fans, he said: "Just keep supporting us like you guys are doing, we appreciate your love so much and we love you guys so much".

Collins has not played for the Super Eagles since he was named in the starting lineup to face Guinea-Bissau in a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations match on January 19, 2022.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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