England-born Nigerian defender, Noah Adekoya, who plies his trade with Burnley FC, has described his time with Nigeria’s Flying Eagles in Abuja as one of the most memorable experiences of his career so far.
In an interview with Gongnews.net, the newly promoted youth team player of the English Premier League side revealed that his close to one-month stint with the national U-20 team has greatly impacted his growth, helping him build “African strength.”
He expressed gratitude to head coach Aliu Zubairu and his teammates for the opportunity to train and play with the squad.
“I will always be proud of coming home to play for Nigeria and my time with the Flying Eagles and I must confess to you it was a wonderful time for me and experiencing love from everyone around has opened my heart to look forward to the Super Eagles in the future,” the 18-year-old towering defender stated.
Adekoya, who recently signed his first professional contract with Burnley following his return from the Flying Eagles camp in September, disclosed that his immediate goal is to earn regular playing time for his club in the Premier League.
He believes that achieving this will better prepare him for the challenges of representing the Super Eagles, which he described as his “next dream.”
“Currently I am training very hard to get into the match day squad which I know will come soon and I am looking forward to start playing for Burnley in the league and also anticipating to be part of the Nigeria Super Eagles because it has always been my dream to come and play for my country from childhood because my grandma used to tell me wonderful stories about Nigeria,” the Burnley defender added.
Known for his versatility, composure, and ability to use both feet effectively, Adekoya has earned praise for his calm passing game and defensive awareness. He featured for Burnley’s first team during preseason matches ahead of the current campaign.
Reflecting on his experience in camp, Noah said one of the highlights of his stay was building lifelong friendships with his teammates, an experience he said he will always cherish.
