Mubarak Suleiman: Super Eagles rookie opens up on call-up – “Wasn’t what I expected”

Super Eagles new invitee Mubarak Suleiman has admitted that his first experience with the national team has been different from what he anticipated.

The 19-year-old Slavia Prague talent received his first invitation to the senior national team this international break after a decent start to the campaign at his club. He has contributed five goals and two assists in ten games this season.

Coming into the Super Eagles fold, Suleiman expected that some of the more experienced players might be distant or display an attitude towards newcomers because of their status in Nigerian football.

However, his first days in camp have changed that perception, with Suleiman expressing delight at how welcoming his new teammates have been.

“Of course, I’m happy to be here. Since I came here, everybody has been friendly. This isn’t what I was expecting from them – maybe some of them would be giving attitude or something like that, because they are big players. So, I think I’m happy to be among them,” he said.

“My first training session was good, and I learned many things from them. It was something that I have been dreaming of, because back in 2021, I went for a tryout with the U-17 national team, but it didn’t work out for me,” Suleiman explained.

This is the first time that the youngster will get called up to the national team, and his case is actually an anomaly, as teenagers hardly get into the Super Eagles. Suleiman admits that it came as a big surprise, and even his member of his family have been very happy since.

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“I hoped then that maybe another opportunity would come up. When I got the call-up for the senior team, I was so surprised. I knew my form in the team was okay, so I hoped an opportunity would come, but I didn’t think it would come from the senior team.”

“Starting from my family, they were so excited. My mother was so emotional; she didn’t even expect this kind of opportunity would happen. She was happy, and my father also,” he added.

What Mubarak Suleiman has learned from Super Eagles training

Mubarak Suleiman had admitted that he is already looking to take lessons from the experience.

He spoke about their composure and the way senior players interact with others as some of the most important things he has picked up during his first training sessions.

Mubarak Suleiman of Slavia Prague speaks about his national team call up https://t.co/YJBMaiy7vL

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“In my first training with the team, I learned a lot of things: composure and the way they relate to others. I learned many things from them, some of which I can’t even remember right now,” he added.

“If I get the chance on matchday, of course, I will try to use my opportunities and use the chances well, so that it will make the coach and the staff call me up next time.”

Unfortunately for Mubarak, it is quite unlikely that he will start against Tanzania on Friday. The Slavia Prague man operates from the left wing, but there is Moses Simon and ademola Lookman ahead of him in the pecking order, so he will likely watch from the bench. The best he will likely get is a cameo.