Shooting Stars midfielder Ayobami Junior has expressed immense joy after earning his maiden invitation to Nigeria’s senior national team, the Super Eagles, ahead of the 2026 Unity Cup in London.
The call-up marks a major milestone for one of the Nigeria Premier Football League’s standout performers this season, following his impressive run of creativity and consistency in midfield.
Ayobami, who has emerged as one of Shooting Stars’ most influential players, has been rewarded for a remarkable campaign in which he finished among the top creative midfielders in the NPFL.
He leads the league’s assist chart with 13 assists, a return that helped strengthen his case for a first invitation by Super Eagles coach Éric Chelle, who has included several home-based players in his squad for the four-nation tournament.
Reacting to the breakthrough moment, the midfielder reflected on how he first learned about his invitation.
“The first person I spoke to was was my friend. He was the one who woke me up actually. he called me saying I got an invitation from the Super Eagles. I said how, and he was like check your phone. Then I saw the invite. I was so happy,” Ayobami told Shooting Stars media.
Reflecting on his growth and ambition at the Ibadan-based club, Ayobami credited improved conditions and personal determination for his development.
“Last two seasons when I played for Shooting, I only got six assists, and then when we started this season, when I saw the management and everything, and then the welfare of the players is very, very okay at Shooting Stars.
“So it kept me going, saying this season we will go a long way. Yeah, I want to play for the national team, and then I want to win the league and maybe get the team to the continental stage, and then for you to be on top you have to provide more assists, which I did, 13.”
The midfielder’s creative numbers have made him one of the most talked-about domestic stars in Nigerian football, with Chelle reportedly monitoring NPFL talents closely before finalising his Unity Cup squad.
Ayobami also spoke about the perseverance that carried him through previous disappointments before finally earning national recognition.
“So that’s the best so far in the league — 13 assists this season. It was a fantastic moment for me, and I’m so proud of it. After all these years, you know, getting denied every time was a bit frustrating, but when I got the invite, I just said to myself, ‘Delay is not denial.’ I should just keep pushing. It is every player’s dream to represent his country, so it was a fantastic moment for me.”
Now part of a Super Eagles squad preparing for the Unity Cup from May 26 to May 30, Ayobami will hope to translate his domestic form onto the international stage as he seeks to prove he belongs among Nigeria’s emerging midfield options.
Wale Adejumo
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