Chibuike Nwaiwu has received his first invitation to the Super Eagles squad for Nigeria’s international friendlies against Iran and Jordan, completing a remarkable two-year journey from the NPFL to the national team.
The Trabzonspor defender was named as a replacement following Calvin Bassey’s withdrawal due to a back injury.
Nwaiwu’s progression has been swift and unusual. He played for Enyimba in the NPFL in 2024 before moving to Austrian club Wolfsberger AC for the 2024/25 season. He then joined Turkish Süper Lig side Trabzonspor for the current campaign, establishing himself as a reliable defensive option.
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His rise mirrors that of Victor Osimhen, who also used the Türkiye-Nigeria pathway to European prominence. Nwaiwu’s invitation reflects Eric Chelle’s willingness to reward rapid development regardless of traditional seniority.
The defender will link up with the Super Eagles camp in Antalya, Turkey, ahead of the March 27 clash with Iran and the March 31 meeting with Jordan .
