New arrival at Girondins-Bordeaux of France, Samuel Kalu is on the verge of taking over the Super Eagles’ spot on the wings from Chelsea of England ace, Victor Moses, starting with the September 7 match against Seychelles.
With Moses having opted for an early retirement from the Eagles, the search has been on for an instant alternative and, with the next possible option, Moses Simon out injured, Kalu looks set to go straight into Nigeria’s starting line up against Seychelles.
This much has been hinted by Eagles gaffer, Gernot Rohr, who affirmed that Kalu has received his first main team international call up to try him out as the right replacement for Moses.
Kalu is in line to make his official Nigeria senior debut against Seychelles in Victoria, and Rohr believes the uncapped former KAA Gent of Belgium winger can prove to be Moses’ successor in the Eagles.
Moses recently called time on his international career with the Eagles at the age of 27, but Rohr said there is no room for a vacuum, as he unveiled his 24-player squad for next month’s 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Seychelles.
Rohr stressed that Kalu has a deserved call up, following his recent transfer to Ligue 1, and the Franco-German tactician is hoping that his new invitee will be a masterstroke.
“Samuel Kalu is a young player at 21. He is an exciting winger. He can be the successor to Victor Moses at the right side,” Rohr enthused.
On his part, Kalu said self-belief, hard work and God are behind his top form, transfer to Bordeaux for eight million Euros from Gent and his first Eagles call-up.
On Thursday, he made his UEFA Champions League debut for Bordeaux against his former club Gent in Belgium with the game ending in a scoreless draw.
Kalu said: “Hard work and self confidence have been my greatest secrets and above all God’s favour. I have enjoyed God’s favour of late, things are happening very fast in my career now.
“I just signed signed for a club in Europe and two weeks later I got invited to the Super Eagles for the first time ever.
“All glory to God because three years ago I was at AS Trencin in Slovakia, I moved from there to Belgium league where I played for Gent.
“I dedicate my first call-up to the Super Eagles to ‘Coach Bros’, he was the one who believed in my talent and took me out of the country to sign for AS Trencin.
“I am already playing for a Champions League club. This can only spur me to do more by putting my best on the field of play.
