Why Nigeria’s Super Eagles must call up Elche’s John Nwankwo before Spain does

La Liga has always had a soft spot for Nigerian footballers.

From Finidi George dazzling at Real Betis in the 1990s, to Christopher Ohenhen firing in goals for Compostela, Spain has repeatedly been the stage where Nigerian talent shines.

More recently, Umar Sadiq’s towering presence at Real Sociedad, Chidera Ejuke’s bursts of energy at Sevilla, and Akor Adams’ maiden La Liga goal last weekend have kept the tradition alive.

Last season, it was Christantus Uche who took the Spanish elite division by storm, netting four goals and adding six assists for Getafe before sealing a move to Crystal Palace.

Now, another name is slipping into the conversation. It’s one you may not have settled on yet because, depending on whom you ask, he is John Chetauya Donald, John Nwankwo, or even John Donald Okeh. To keep things simple, the Spaniards just call him John.

And after his match-winning strike for Elche against Celta Vigo, the Spanish-born Nigerian midfielder looks ready to step out of obscurity and into the Super Eagles spotlight.

From Murcia to La Liga

Born in Murcia on 25 September 2000 to Nigerian parents, John’s football journey began at Real Murcia before Villarreal snapped him up in 2015 for their youth academy.

His senior debut came in August 2019 for Villarreal’s C-team. Not long after, Elche saw enough promise to bring him into their system in 2020.

Progress was steady rather than spectacular. He scored his first senior goal for Elche B in November 2020, made his first-team debut in the Copa del Rey a month later, and just three days after that, tasted La Liga action against Atlético Madrid.

But for two full seasons, John was mostly a peripheral figure, registering just four league appearances.

The turning point came in 2022 when Elche extended his deal until 2025. Under Sebastián Beccacece, John was gradually trusted with bigger responsibilities. He endured relegation with Elche in 2023, but it was in the Segunda División that he found his rhythm: 20 appearances, one goal, and a growing reputation as a midfield controller.

Injury hampered him during the 2024–25 campaign, but even then, he chipped in with two goals in 19 matches as Elche clawed their way back to La Liga.

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John’s breakthrough

This season has been different. Elche have returned to the top flight with a fire in their belly, and John has been at the heart of it. He has already featured in four matches, none more memorable than last weekend when he powered home the decisive strike in a 2–1 victory over Celta Vigo.

It was a goal that blended composure with intelligence, qualities not always associated with defensive midfielders. Timing his run perfectly, he latched on to a loose ball and finished with a striker’s instinct. For a player trusted primarily for breaking up play, this was a moment that announced him to the wider La Liga audience.

And Elche are thriving. Seven matches into the campaign, they are unbeaten, sitting fourth behind Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Villarreal. Three wins, four draws, ten goals scored, and only six conceded. It has been a dream start.

Why Nigeria should be paying attention

John’s emergence could not be timelier for Nigeria. The Super Eagles’ midfield is functional but predictable.

Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, and Alhassan Yusuf bring energy, pressing, and tough tackling, but none are renowned for crisp distribution from deep.

John offers something different. He is not as imposing a destroyer as Ndidi, nor as relentless a presser as Onyeka, but he disrupts opponents with intelligence and then keeps the ball moving. Short passes, long diagonals, switches of play, John has them in his locker.

Think of him as a modern hybrid, somewhere between Sunday Oliseh’s vision and Mutiu Adepoju’s versatility, but with greater stamina and tactical discipline.

Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle is unlikely to ignore him for long. Nigeria’s midfield has often been accused of lacking creativity in transitions, and John’s style could solve that problem. The fact he speaks fluent Spanish and is already competing weekly against world-class opposition makes his profile even more compelling.

What comes next?

At 25, John is entering the peak years of his career. If Elche continue to punch above their weight in La Liga, bigger Spanish clubs, or even suitors from England and Italy, may come calling.

More importantly for Nigerian fans, he is now on the cusp of an international breakthrough.

John’s story reflects a recurring Nigerian theme in Spain: patient growth, moments of resilience, and then sudden bursts of recognition. Like Christopher Ohenhen before him, or Christantus Uche more recently, he is proof that Nigerian footballing DNA adapts well to the technical and tactical demands of La Liga.

Whether the Super Eagles coaching staff act quickly enough remains to be seen, but if early signs are anything to go by, Nigeria may have just found their missing link in midfield.