Super Eagles midfielder Samson Tijani has earned a place in Nigeria’s squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Tanzania.

The 24-year-old midfielder worked his way back from a career-threatening injury, rebuilt his club career in Europe and has now been handed the chance to seal a permanent spot in the senior national team.

Tijani’s return comes after several loan spells, a difficult period on the sidelines and a move to Slovakia. His recent performances for FK Železiarne Podbrezová have caught the attention of Super Eagles coach Éric Chelle, who has included him in his latest squad.

Tijani’s selection comes at the expense of 28-year-old Frank Onyeka, who was left out of the squad. The former Golden Eaglets captain will now have another chance to impress against Tanzania and establish himself in the Super Eagles.

Super Eagles midfielder Samson Tijani. Photo by IMAGO

Samson Tijani’s first international steps

Samson Tijani first made his mark in Nigerian football during the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup qualification campaign.

The Collins Edwin Sports Academy graduate captained the Golden Eaglets and was named Best Player at the WAFU U-17 tournament, helping Nigeria qualify for the continental competition.

He continued to impress at the 2019 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations in Tanzania before taking his game to the World Cup in Brazil.

Tijani scored twice in Nigeria’s opening 4-2 win over Hungary, converting a late penalty and scoring from a free-kick. He played in all four of Nigeria’s matches as the Golden Eaglets reached the Round of 16.

His performances earned him a move to Austrian giants Red Bull Salzburg in July 2020.

However, his progress was interrupted in July 2022 when he fractured his tibia and suffered damage to his lower leg muscles during a match against Austria Wien. He spent more than a year recovering from the injury.

After returning to action, Tijani played for Wolfsberger AC and Norwegian club Fredrikstad before leaving Salzburg and joining Czech side Dukla Prague in 2025.

He moved to Slovak club Podbrezová on loan in September 2026 in search of regular playing time.

Why Chelle picked Tijani ahead of Onyeka

After delivering a number of impressive performances in Slovakia, Samson Tijani has again caught the attention of coach Chelle who is still rebuilding the Super Eagles midfield.

He has made six appearances in the 2026/27 campaign, starting four and playing 284 minutes. He has recorded 27 ball recoveries, eight successful tackles and seven interceptions.

Usually tidy in possession, the midfielder has also completed 149 passes at an accuracy rate of 85.1 per cent, including 24 forward passes that broke through opposition lines.

These are the qualities Chelle expects Tijani to bring to the position against Tanzania. The Podbrezová star can protect the defence, win possession, retain the ball and help his team move the ball forward from midfield.

His playing style could suit Chelle’s preferred 4-3-1-2 formation, which requires midfielders who can defend and keep possession.

As a better passer of the ball, Tijani comes in to fill the gap left by Onyeka’s omission. Onyeka is known for his energy and ability to break up opposition attacks, but Tijani offers a bit more, particularly when Nigeria need a midfielder who can dictate play and distribute the ball from deep.

Tijani has also worked with Chelle before, having featured in Nigeria’s Unity Cup campaign. He played alongside Alhassan Yusuf and Tochukwu Nnadi, giving him some experience of the coach’s midfield demands.

His recent performances in Slovakia and previous experience under Chelle have helped him earn another opportunity with the Super Eagles.

At 24, Tijani has time to establish himself in the national team. The Tanzania fixtures could give him the chance to show that he has put his injury problems behind him and can compete for a regular place in Nigeria’s midfield.