Super Eagles winger, Nathan Tella has firmly dismissed recent claims suggesting he has been avoiding call-ups to the team, reiterating his commitment to representing the country.
The Bayer Leverkusen forward returned to the national fold for the ongoing Unity Cup in London.
His inclusion has sparked fresh conversations around his international allegiance, but the 25-year-old insists his heart has always been with Nigeria.
Speaking to the Super Eagles media team, Tella clarified that his previous absence from the squad had nothing to do with a lack of patriotism.
“It’s good. You know, I’m happy to be back. I think there’s been this perception that I didn’t want to play for the national team, and that’s never been the case,” he said. “I’ve just been unfortunate with an injury happening the last time I got called up.”
Tella made it clear that pulling on the green and white jersey is not something he takes lightly.
“I’m happy. I’m happy to be here, happy to be back, and always happy and honoured to represent. I mean, it gives me a chance to connect, connect to my roots, represent the country of my family, myself, and gives me a chance to play with pride.”
He also reflected on what it means to be part of the squad at such a crucial moment.
“I’m able to play for my country, and I’m able to play with some of the best players in the country. So, it’s a brilliant opportunity for me to improve as a player and also experience new things.”
On Nigeria’s current World Cup qualification campaign, Tella acknowledged the frustration among players and fans alike.
“It’s been frustrating looking in, watching what’s happening with the team because I know how hard we want to work and how much we want to get to the World Cup. So we can only focus on what we can control.
Now, it’s a chance for us to, you know, make it right, play some games, win some games. And I’ve always wanted to play games.“
