Remo Stars of Ikenne captain, Junior Nduka is feeling on top of the world, being part of the Super Eagles’ squad that won the 2025 Unity Cup in London, a few weeks after emerging as a champion with his club in the Nigerian
Professional Football League (NPFL).
Nduka, who was one of 10 home-based players that made the trip with the Eagles for the recent four-nation invitational competition at Brentford’s GTech Community Stadium in West London, told Sports247 that it was a wonderful experience which he will relish for a long time to come.
He acknowledged that winning both competitions was not an easy task, especially with how his club braved all odds to emerge as the next private-owned team to clinch the NPFL title since Udoji United of Onitsha pulled off the same feat in 1996.
He added, “At first, you can’t predict if you would be the one to win the league, because it’s 38 games and there are 20 teams competing on the log. So, you can’t say you’ll be the one to win it.
“As for the four-team tournament we played in UK … like one of the coaches I played under used to say, ‘You can’t go to a competition that you don’t want to win.’
So, I will say I knew we were going to win the trophy.”
Aside from charging himself up mentally with self-belief and emotional assurances about victory for the Eagles at the four-nation competition in London, Nduka stated further that he was sure of Nigeria’s success based on the quality of players invited by the coach, Eric Chelle.
He pointed out, “With the calibre of players that we have … experienced, though young, I was sure we would win it. At the same time, they are energetic and ready to play.
As for my own personal experience, it’s an amazing feeling and an amazing experience.”
He concluded with an insight into goings on in the national team and admitted it is not easy to keep pace with other top players from various clubs in the Eagles’ camp, but posited that God will continue leading him forward in his career.
“It’s a different ball game over there at the senior national level. I must confess, it’s very tough … because you have the best legs who are playing all over the various countries to come and represent the nation.
“As for the way forward for me, I will keep everything in God’s hands. Because whatever you put in God’s hands, you can never lose it, and it will never fail,” the soft-spoken skipper philosophised.
