It would be the accomplishment of a lifetime to be able to play a century of matches for the three-time African champions, reckons former Chelsea player Kenneth Omeruo.
Current Super Eagles assistant coach Joseph Yobo and arguably Nigeria’s greatest ever goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama are the joint most-capped players for the national team with both featuring in 101 games.
But Leganes star Omeruo has set his sight on equaling or even surpassing the feat of the two Nigerian legends.
The one-time Middlesbrough centre-back was only 19 years old when he made his Super Eagles debut against Cape Verde in January 2013. He played a vital role in defence as a coach Stephen Keshi-led side proceeded to conquer Africa later that year.
Now 26, Omeruo has since amassed 52 caps with another half a century games needed to smash the 101 caps record of Yobo and Enyeama.
A lot of factors, including injuries, club form, and coaches’ choices, may decide if the Spain-based ace eventually hits the mark, but he retains the belief that it is possible.
“It’s really a great an achievement for a player to make 100 appearances for Nigeria because there are great talents in Nigeria,” Omeruo told Brila.
“I think it’s also difficult to play that amount of games for the national team, because we have different coaches coming in, changing the team and invite other players.
“I would have made about 80 appearances if I play all the qualifiers and also considering the games that I was on the bench, so but it’s about the manager and if the player is lucky with injury.
“Of course, it will be a great achievement for me to reach that number, but like I said, it’s not in players’ hands.”
Omeruo started in six of the seven games Nigeria played at the 2019 AFCON, where he added a bronze medal to the gold he claimed seven years ago.