Nigeria’s Under 20 team made it to the quarter final of the World Cup and one of the gladiators was Tochukwu Nnadi who explains to TUNDE LIADI how he started football at a young age; his breakthrough to Europe and how his FIFA U20 World Cup adventure began among others
Flying Eagles midfielder, Tochukwu Nnadi says he is ready to take his career to the next level after he helped Nigeria to the quarter final of the just concluded Argentina 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup.
Nnadi had a solid performance in Argentina where he played in all the Flying Eagles’ five games with commendable performance in all and Imo born midfielder told NationSport that he was happy to contribute his quota towards putting Nigeria back on the world map In the South American nation.
The Umuelem Umuadamuche, Ihiagwa, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State raised player rewound how his career got started recalling the wonderful role Patrick Osuji, the owner of Campos FC of Owerri played in helping him to discover his talent at a very tender age and also guiding him towards the path with which he travelled abroad.
“It is a talent from God. I started playing football as a kid and it has brought me thus far,” Nnadi began in an exclusive chat.
“My breakthrough came when I came for an open screening to join Campos FC, Owerri which is owned by Patrick Osuji. I trained with them and I joined the team.
“It was from there after some years that Mr Patrick Osuji called my Dad on that memorable day that I needed to continue my development in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
“It was difficult. I left without my family members and friends. I was young and so it was very difficult for me in the first three months but I managed to be strong, train and I know I have a lot to prove and change. I just wanted a new story and so I had to put myself together and do what is right.
“I was there in 2019 and I was introduced to an academy that is not too popular. I was opportune to train with another Academy in Dubai called Madenat Alamal Football Academy. It was from there I joined Botev Plovdiv of Bulgaria came calling in 2021 August after a successful trial. It was last year that I began playing because of delays in paperwork.”
Nnadi reckoned that despite taking him some time to settle down at Botev Plovdiv he seized the chance on April 3rd last year when he had his debut against top Bulgarian side, Ludogorets. He said his name was on the lips of many that watched the game even though they were beaten 3-0 in the game.
The midfielder went ahead to play some games more with first team with but featured more prominently for the reserve team two seasons ago to get more playing time and more exposure.
The Nigeria U20 star featured more prominently last season with 19 games for the senior team and starting nine of those games and he revealed that he would work harder to get more playing time in the season that is about to start.
“My first game with the team remained my most memorable game for now. It was against Ludogorets . A tough side that normally plays in the Uefa Champions League with quality players. We lost the game 3-0 but almost everyone greeted me for a good game. I played the game with confidence and had many good moments in the game,” Tochukwu continued.
“I was focused on my job as a professional. It is evident I would like to play at the top but I remain undistracted.”
The 19 year old shared his thoughts on his invitation to the Flying Eagles when his Bulgarian club broke the news to him. He said how he felt when he received the information cannot be described enough by words.
He said it took him some time to acclimatize to the change of environment when he got to Abuja for the pre camping for the U20 World Cup but he had to adjust to the situation on ground so that it won’t hinder his performance in camp.
“It has always been my dream to play for my country. I was called up to the Flying Eagles camp. I got the information after our training from my club management. I told them I would honour the invitation because it has been my dream to play for my country,” Nnadi stated.
“I was so excited and I called my family members, Patrick Osuji, the owner of Campos FC, Owerri. I informed them I would be coming to Nigeria and I hope I make the squad.
“It was difficult initially because of the weather and the playing pitch in Abuja. The coach was okay with the few he saw of him in training and the friendly games we played and I made the team to Argentina.
“We played two warm up games in Argentina. The game with Colombia was the most challenging because we played against a Colombian team that we didn’t know what to expect against them. They led 3-1 at some stages in the game but we managed to comeback.”
Nnadi noted that it was another feeling entirely when he was selected among the players to represent Nigeria at the Under 20 World Cup but that he was able to curtail his joy. He said he only called members of his family and a few other close friends who rejoiced with him.
“I am a calm person. I don’t get too overly excited. I was happy to be selected but I tried to curtail it. I wasn’t happy with not starting some games but I was calm because I knew my time would come and it came.”
Nnadi reviewed the five games played by the Flying Eagles in Argentina from the tricky start against the Dominican Republic to the narrow loss to South Korea in the quarter final. He noted that the Nigeria U20 team really wanted to go all the way and that they were only unfortunate to lose to the Asian side in the last eight.
The Botev Plovdiv midfielder thumbed up the performance of the Flying Eagles in all the games they played but noted that some factors including injuries to some key members of the team before the crucial tie, and lack of requisite experience to play the game of such magnitude among others militated against their defeat to South Korea
“You don’t have to underrate any team. We went into the game (with Dominican Republic) with the determination to win. We felt with the name we would be able to overrun them. We were not fully focused. It was a difficult game for us and we were even a goal behind. We came back and scored two goals,” Nnadi disclosed on the Flying Eagles 2-1 win over Dominican Republic.
He had this to say on the fixture with Italy which Nigeria won 2-0: “The players came out strong against Italy. We wanted to win the game. We thought Brazil would easily top the group while the remaining teams would struggle for the second spot. It was why we faced Italy with the three points in our mind. We were compact from the beginning and we won.
The Botev Plovdiv of Bulgaria player explained the technical role Flying Eagles head coach, Ladan Bosso played before the game with Italy and in all their games in Argentina: “The coach helped a lot. I started the first game but stayed on the bench in the second game. He thought we could do something from the second half because Italy began the game very well against Brazil. They were 3-0 up at halftime but conceded two goals in the second half. They barely managed to win the game. We thought we could explore them more in the second half. We scored two second half goals and we won.
On the defeat to Brazil in the last group game, Nnadi hinted that the Flying Eagles wanted a win but were undone by momentary lack of concentration which resulted in the two quick goals they conceded in the first half and ill luck with about two of their chances hitting the woodwork.
“We went into the Brazil game with high hope that we would get a win. Brazil, Italy and Argentina were among the best teams in the World Cup and we wanted to go all out against all of them. We however lost against Brazil.
Nnadi asserted that they were under pressure from all corners ahead of the second round game with the host Argentina but that the coaches and some of the players were able to calm the situation down.
“I don’t accept pressure as a player even in tough games. We had a lot of pressure ahead of the game. I was calm ahead of the game. We managed to win the game,” Nnadi continued.
“I played a similar game against APOEL Nicosia in the Europa Conference League in Cyprus. The atmosphere was electrifying and turbo charged for me to handle. We lost the game 2-0 in Nicosia. I was able to speak to my teammates before the Argentina game. We gave everything for ourselves, families and our country. We knew it would be difficult because as hosts
“They had everything at their disposal but we felt they were more under pressure because they had something to prove.”
The midfielder acknowledged that they knew the fixture with South Korea would be difficult but that the loss of Samson Lawal and Haliru Sarki shortly before the game and their lack of cohesion in the final third were their biggest albatross.
“We had two players who were very important to the team, Samson Lawal and Haliru Sarki that got injured shortly before the game. It was difficult because we needed all the players available for that game. We showed good character and started the game well. We tried our best with the young players we presented for the competition. We were lacking in experienced players for the big games. South Koreans were very tactical side and were very calm until they got their goal.
“We were not calmed and composed in the final third. We needed to just score a goal and could have decided the game but we were unable to get it. They got it and it was over.”
Just like some of the standout performers in the Nigeria’s Under 20 team, Tochukwu has been linked with several clubs abroad but the player said his first port of call is to return to Botev where he is going to meet a new coach in charge, Stanislav Petrov Genchev.
“I have to be calm at this moment and continue working hard. We have a new coach now and going back there will be like almost a new environment. I will go back and meet the coach. We will train and see what happens.
The midfielder said he would like to model his game around his two role models: Sofyat Amrabat of Morocco and Chelsea and French star, N’Golo Kante and that it is dream to play in one of the top five leagues.
Nnadi also stressed that it is desire to continue to seek improvement and being his first critique honestly as he continues his ascend in football while remembering how it all started some years back under extreme tough conditions.
“I like Amrabat of Morocco’s energy and his style and will like to model my game like his. N’ Golo Kante is another good player that I am looking up to.
“I hope to play in any of the top 5 leagues in the world. Playing in any of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and England will be ideal for my development.
“I never lied to myself. If I do bad I always talk to myself when I’m alone. I think about my previous games and try to analyse what is good and bad for improvement.”
