Much-maligned Tanimu at a loss to explain continued Super Eagles invitation

Published on by Andrew Randa

Super Eagles defender Benjamin Tanimu has said he is unperturbed by a cross-section of Nigerian media questioning his invitation to the national team.

The 21-year-old is in Uyo with the Nigeria squad as they prepare for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Libya on Friday.

Tanimu, who is contracted to English League One side Crawley Town, believes Super Eagles interim coach Austin Eguavoen may see something in him to warrant his continued call-ups.

Super Eagles: Much-maligned Tanimu at a loss to explain continued invitation
Photo by IMAGO

The former Bendel Insurance captain was first called up for the international friendlies against Ghana and Mali in March.

He was also in the squad for the last batch of AFCON qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda, but a lot of fans and media alike feel he does not deserve a call-up because he plays in the lower leagues in England.

Tanimu keen to repay trust of Super Eagles coach

Speaking exclusively to Afrik-Foot, Tanimu said he is happy the coach trusts him and that is why he called him up for the latest squad.

“He might be seeing something in me that I myself don't see in myself and that's why he continues to invite me and I appreciate it,” he said.

“Any opportunity I am given, I believe I'll make use of it in other not to let him down.”

Super Eagles: Much-maligned Tanimu at a loss to explain continued invitation
Photo by IMAGO

Tanimu also revealed he can play anywhere for the Super Eagles as he is versatile and can play anywhere across the back four even though he prefers to play a more central role defensively.

“I'll play anywhere the coach wants me to play, but if you ask me, I would say I prefer to play at centre back. That's where I feel most comfortable with.”

The defender will hope to play a part in the double header against Libya, with the first game in Uyo on Friday and then a follow-up game on the 14th in Benina, near Tripoli.

Much-maligned Tanimu at a loss to explain continued Super Eagles invitation

Andrew Randa

Andrew Randa is a veteran Nigerian sports journalist with over 20 years of experience covering the beautiful game across Africa. Andrew served as a Media Officer for Nigeria's U-20 Men's National Team for three years, offering a unique perspective on the future stars of Nigerian football.

Beyond reporting, Andrew is a pioneer in sports graphics creation within Nigeria. His expertise extends to sports kit design, making him a true multi-faceted talent in the African sports landscape.

Andrew's experience is vast, with collaborations encompassing prestigious names like Kickoff, SuperSport, the NFF (Nigeria Football Federation), and the NPFL (Nigeria Professional Football League)