“My invitation to play for Nigeria’s Super Eagles came to me as a surprise. I was so shocked that I cried.”

That was how Isaac James reacted while fielding questions shortly after he arrived at the Eagles’ camp this week.

Isaac James plays professional football as a left back for Alverca Football Club in the Portuguese top league.

The defender is one of the new players in Coach Eric Chelle’s 24-man squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, beginning on Friday, 24th September, 2026.

Issac James is likely to make his debut against Madagascar this evening when the Super Eagles begin their campaign in the AFCON qualifiers at the Uyo Township Stadium.

On why he cried instead of being happy for a chance to don the green-white-green colours of the senior national team, Isaac James said: “Playing for Nigeria has been a childhood dream for me, but I didn’t know that it will come so soon because our country has too many talented players.

“But, when I received the invitation, I said ‘so soon’ and then I started preparing ahead of my first assignment for Nigeria. I’m in the camp now, getting ready to represent my country and I will give my best whenever the Coach gives me a chance to play in the team.”

Isaac James plays in the same position with Ola Aina, but he has also played in the left center back and left midfield positions for Alverca Football Club since joining the team on July 2, 2025.

He played for Remo Stars Football Club in the Nigeria Premier League before moving to FC Lorient of France in 2023-2024 and later signed for Alverca last year.