FC Zurich centre back Daniel Kelechi Ihendu has pledged to post a 5-star performances anytime he dons the green and white jersey of Nigeria as a way of showing appreciation for his invitation to the Nigeria U-23 Eagles.

The former Werder Brenen player spoke through his Berlin-based agent, Tony Emeka, who declared that, “The lad is filled with enthusiasm since his club, FC Zurich, received his invitation on his behalf. He has vowed to play out his heart once he is handed the opportunity to represent Nigeria.”

Ihendu is a former RB Leipzig upstart who played for all the Bundesliga’s youth teams before being invited to the German U-15 side a few years  ago. His exploits earned him a move to Werder Brenen from where he was grabbed by Swiss giants FC Zurich.

According to Emeka, a former protocol officer with Heartland FC of Owerri, when the Naze millionaires won the FA Cup back to back, Ihendu has been nursing the ambition to play for Nigeria in his teens days.

“His father had maintained that his son will play for Nigeria. He had continually drummed this into the lad’s ears, so much so that he became eager to see all Super Eagles games. This is where he drew his inspiration and hunger to play for Nigeria from.”

21-year-old Ihendu, who could operate as a libero and sweeper, will file out with U-23 Eagles in Kinshasha against hosts Congo DR in the AFCON cum 2028 Olympics qualifier. The winner of this two-leg fixture will move straight to AFCON, from where Africa’s representatives for the Olympics will emerge.

Many are already suggesting that the U-23 Eagles will form the nucleus of the Super Eagles squad for the 2030 World Cup if the team qualifies. This is why attention is focused on the U-23 Eagles since most of the present crop of Super Eagles players may be over 30 years by the 2030 World Cup proper.

The central defence of Super Eagles has been suspect since the exit of former captain William Troost-Ekong. A solid performance by Ihendu will project him for a place in the defence of the senior team, which many agree isn’t water-tight.

The excitement of the FC Zurich defender will propel him to a sterling display in Kinshasha if Eric Chelle hands him a starting shirt and if the lad hopefully doesn’t disappoint.