Super Eagles debutant Ebenezer Akinsanmiro has described his invitation to the Nigerian national team as one of the most significant moments of his career.
In a recent interview, the 21-year-old midfielder, who currently plays for Italian Serie B side Pisa, shared his emotions after receiving the long-awaited call-up. Akinsanmiro admitted that the invitation came as a surprise, particularly after missing out on a previous opportunity due to injury.
“I honestly wasn’t expecting it,” he revealed. “I was initially called up during the World Cup qualifiers, but I couldn’t join the team because I was injured. When I got the call for the AFCON, I rang someone close to me and I cried.”
He explained that the emotional response was driven by how long he had waited for the chance to represent Nigeria at the senior level. According to Akinsanmiro, playing for the national team has been a lifelong dream dating back to his youth football days.
“It has been my dream for a very long time,” he said. “I tried making the U17 and U20 teams, but I wasn’t selected. There were moments when I felt I wasn’t good enough, but I kept working hard and believing that my chance would come.”
Reflecting on his childhood, Akinsanmiro revealed that watching football regularly was a privilege he did not have growing up. Despite his passion for the sport, access to live matches was limited.
“To be honest, I didn’t watch much football when I was young,” he explained. “Where I grew up, you had to pay to watch games, and as a child I wasn’t allowed. We simply didn’t have that opportunity.”
As he became more focused on pursuing a professional career, Akinsanmiro sought inspiration elsewhere. He recalled watching clips of Nigerian legends John Mikel Obi and Jay-Jay Okocha on YouTube.
“When I got older and became serious about football, I started watching Mikel Obi and Jay-Jay Okocha online,” he said. “I admired their confidence and how comfortable they were on the ball.”
The midfielder also credited his family for playing a major role in his development, noting that his father and brothers were his biggest influences.
“My dad and my brothers inspired me the most,” he said. “They all played football when they were younger, and I wanted to follow their path.”
However, Akinsanmiro admitted that there was a period when he doubted whether football could secure his future. During that time, he briefly stepped away from the sport to learn a trade.
“There was a moment when I felt football wasn’t fully guaranteed for me,” he explained. “I stopped playing for a while and learned barbing. But with encouragement and inspiration from my dad and my brother, I returned to football.”
Currently on loan at Pisa from Inter Milan, Akinsanmiro has featured in 12 matches this season and has established himself as a key figure in the midfield as the club fights to maintain its league status.
