Sodiq Ismail’s Super Eagles selection inspires Remo Stars squad

The invitation of Remo Stars right-back Sodiq Ismail to the Super Eagles by coach Finidi George has been described as a door opener for other players at the club, as the 20-year-old defender is the first Remo Stars player to be invited into the men’s national team.

Ismail received his debut call-up last Friday when the Nigeria Football Federation released Finidi’s 23-man list for next month’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic. Nigeria will host Bafana Bafana in Uyo on June 7 before travelling to Ivory Coast to face Benin Republic on June 10.

The defender and Enyimba goalkeeper, Ojo Olorunleke, alongside Enugu Rangers’ Kenneth Obinna Igboke are the three Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) players on the list. Igboke was a late call-up following the withdrawal of Victor Osimhen from the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Ismail’s invitation didn’t come as a surprise to followers of the NPFL, thanks to the defender’s consistency, which puts him top of the goal providers’ chart with 13 assists to his name after 31 games this season. The closest player to him on the chart is Kazeem Ogunleye of Rangers with six assists.

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The defender’s quality is his impeccable crosses, which have been constantly turned into goals by the club’s strikers. After providing six assists in just 10 games last season, he started the 2023/24 season from where he stopped and raced to 10 assists in the new season by December, when the league proceeded on the Yuletide break. He has added three more since then, and his contribution has propelled Remo Stars’ chase for their first-ever NPFL title, although they trail leaders Enugu Rangers by four points.

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