Alverca of Portugal left-back, Isaac James, has received a golden opportunity to prove his mettle in Nigeria’s national team, following his invitation to the Super Eagles’ camp in head coach Eric Sekou Chelle’s latest squad roster, Sports247 reports.
James, who was born in the Okpo-Olamaboro area of Port Harcourt and grew through the grassroots with Garden City Panthers, is one of three new players named in Chelle’s 24-man roster for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Madagascar and Guinea Bissau.
The Portugal-based defender, who previously played for Lorient of France, will be joined in the Eagles’ camp for the first time by former AS Monaco of France striker, George Osazehmen Ilenikhena, who now plays for Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia and Moses Usor from LASK Lodz of Austria.
It will accord a breakthrough opportunity at left-back for James, who had trials in 2021 at FC Midtjylland of Denmark before crossing over to Lorient, but featured against them in a friendly for Avranches, as the team he wanted to join decided to watch him closely first before eventually signing him for his first contract in Europe.
In July 2022, officially signed for Lorient’s reserves, then got his professional debut in the French Ligue 2 for Lorient in a 2–0 win over Grenoble on August 24th, 2022; following which his first start came in a 1-1 draw against Metz on September 21st, 2025.
He helped Lorient win the Ligue 2 title and gain promotion to Ligue 1, during which time James had also proved his quality to a huge extent, such that he soon signed with Alverca of Portugal on July 2nd, 2025, and just over a year later, he is now set to debut for the Super Eagles.
James will join up in the Eagles’ camp with team captain, Wilfred Ndidi, goalkeepers Maduka Okoye and Stanley Nwabali, defender Semi Ajayi, midfielder Alex Iwobi, forwards Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon as well as defenders Calvin Bassey and Bright Osayi-Samuel.
Also in the squad are midfielders Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika, and forwards Samuel Chukwueze, Akor Adams and Tolu Arokodare, as well as England-based defenders Olaoluwa Aina and Benjamin Fredricks, along with goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo and defender Chibuike Nwaiwu.
Sports247 gathered further, that James will eye a starting shirt when the Eagles host Madagascar’s Barea at Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Friday, 25th September, before flying to Bissau to take on The Wild Dogs in a Day 2 encounter on Tuesday, 29th September
