“It doesn’t come easy”- Nottingham and Super Eagles attacker Awoniyi reflects on getting into the national team

The Super Eagles’ star has previously represented the Golden Eaglets, Flying Eagles, Olympic Eagles, and Super Eagles

The Super Eagles attacker. Taiwo Awoniyi, has reflected on how difficult it is to get a call-up to any of Nigeria’s national team.

The former Union Berlin striker represented the Nigerian u-17, U-20, and U-23 teams before being selected to play for the Gernot Rohr-coached Nigerian Super Eagles squad in 2021.

As a result, the former Liverpool player has said that joining this squad is not something that every Nigerian football player takes for granted, since everyone aspires to be a star.

The Nottingham Forest player, meanwhile, was a member of the nation’s 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup winner, who brought honour to the nation.

Soccernet.ng understands that following the triumph, most of the players had a defining moment when they were signed by some major European clubs, such as Kelechi Iheanacho, who joined Manchester City.

Speaking on the on-and-off-the-pitch podcast, the Nigerian star said that the process of joining the national squad is drawn out, but that if the opportunity arises, you must take full advantage of it.

“The process for you to get to the under-17 or the under-20 or the national team is a long process, so for you to have the opportunity to be part of it, you have to make the most out of it because it doesn’t come easy. The competitiveness in Nigeria is as much as we see over here as well in this country.” he said.

Awoniyi has said that it’s a little challenging for the coach to choose all of these players at once. Nigerian society is full of talents who have discovered their role models in football that they all want to imitate.

He added: “Exactly, yeah, because it’s just like that because everyone wants to be the next [Lionel] Messi, everyone wants to be the next Ronaldo, everyone wants to play football, so obviously to get into the national team is a process that is a bit difficult because the coach cannot go to all states.”

Awoniyi, however, described his selection for the national squad as evidence of his passion, which was evident in his transfer to the elite league.

“Yeah, for me, if I’m talking about why I’m in the Premier League, I think it has to be about how passionate you want it and how much you want it for yourself.” he continued.

The Nigerian forward has still not played for the Tricky Trees since January and is eager to rejoin the group as his recovery from injury continues to go well.