Meet New Super Eagles Stars Bruno Onyemaechi and Osayi Samuel As Nigeria Set for Portugal Friendly

Meet New Super Eagles Stars Bruno Onyemaechi and Osayi Samuel As Nigeria Set for Portugal Friendly

Babajide Orevba
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:16 PM
  • Bruno Onyemaechi and Bright Osayi-Samuel have been handed their first-ever international call up
  • Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro has invited the pair ahead of the friendly match against Portugal
  • While Onyemaechi was born in Owerri, Osayi-Samuel was born in London to Nigerian parents

The head coach of the Super Eagles, Jose Peseiro, has invited fresh legs into the squad ahead of the much-anticipated friendly match against Portugal.

Nigeria face the World Cup-bound Selecao in an international friendly on November 17, three days before the kick-off of the global showpiece.

And Peseiro, who is leading the Eagles against his home country, named two new defenders in his 26-man shortlist.

Who is Bright Osayi-Samuel?

The 24-year-old was born in England to Nigerian parents, and he is eligible to represent any of the countries at the international level.

He broke into Blackpool's first team in 2015, having started his career with the club's academy.

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Bright Osayi-Samuel, Super Eagles, Fenerbahce
Bright Osayi-Samuel has earned his first international call-up from Nigeria. Photo: Francois Nel
Source: Getty Images

In 2017, he joined QPR and made 115 appearances for the club, getting 13 goals and registering 13 assists.

In 2021, Osayi-Samuel joined Fenerbahce of Turkey for just €560,000, and having impressed in 82 games for the club, the defender is now valued at €9million as per transfermarkt.

Soccernet reports that the player started his career as a midfielder, but at Fenerbahce, he usually features as a right-back or a right wing-back.

Bruno Onyemaechi

The Owerri-born footballer has been in fine form for Boavista this season which must have attracted Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro.

Bruno Onyemaechi, Super Eagles, Boavista
Bruno Onyemaechi has been invited into the Super Eagles. Photo: Gualter Fatia
Source: Getty Images

He has progressed steadily from featuring for the youth teams of Lillestrom and Feirense, Onyemaechi has become a stalwart for Boavista this season.

The 23-year-old stands at 6ft which is a decent height for a centre-back, although decision-making can be questioned, he remains a decent addition to the team.

Peseiro set to invite Caleb Okoli

Sports Brief earlier reported that Jose Peseiro confirmed his readiness to convince Atalanta defender Caleb Okoli to switch his international allegiance to Nigeria.

The Portuguese tactician was appointed as the Super Eagles coach in May this year following Nigeria's failure to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, losing the playoffs to Ghana.

The tactician is remoulding the squad as he targets winning the next African Cup of Nations.

Authors
Babajide Orevba photo
Babajide Orevba
Babajide Orevba is a CAF accredited Nigerian journalist and HOD of the Local Desk with over 10 years of experience in media landscape.He studied NCE Political Science/Social Studies, AOCOED.
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