Eagles call-up came sooner than expected – Isaac

Portugal-based defender James Isaac says he did not expect his invitation to the Super Eagles to come so soon despite enjoying a good start to the season with FC Alvereca in the 2026/27 Liga Portugal, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Isaac is among the 13 new players invited by coach Eric Chelle for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar on Friday and Guinea-Bissau next Tuesday, before the Eagles travel to Russia for a friendly on October 6.

Friday’s fixture marks the beginning of a new AFCON qualifying campaign under Chelle, with Nigeria drawn in Group L alongside Madagascar, Tanzania and Guinea-Bissau.

The 22-year-old opened up on his invitation and expressed his excitement at being among some of the country’s top players.

“I was doing well in the season, but I didn’t expect to get the call-up. It’s my dream to be here, but when the coach called me, I was so surprised because I didn’t expect it to be so soon. But I am really happy to be here and I cried. I have been dreaming of being in the national team,” he said via the Super Eagles’ official social media accounts.

“We have good players here and to be among them, I am really happy. My club was also happy and I’m like the first Nigerian player to get a national team call-up there.”

Isaac gives Chelle another option at full-back and will hope to compete for a place at left-back with established names such as Bruno Onyemaechi and Ola Aina, who can also operate at both right- and left-back.

Isaac signed for Portuguese club Alverca in July 2025 after one season in the French top flight with Lorient. This season, he has made seven league appearances for the club and provided two assists.

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His journey to a breakthrough began in November 2021, when he completed trials at Danish club Midtjylland and then Lorient. During a friendly against Avranches, he was placed in the opposing team to even out the numbers. Against his future teammates, Isaac produced a performance described as “excellent”, prompting Lorient to eventually recruit him.

In July 2022, he left Nigerian club Garden City Panthers FC to join Lorient’s reserve team. He made his Championnat National 2 debut in December 2022 after administrative issues relating to his visa delayed his registration.

On August 24, 2024, Isaac made his Ligue 2 and professional debut for Lorient in a 2-0 win over Grenoble. His first start came in a 1-1 draw against Metz on September 21, 2025.

He went on to make 41 appearances for Lorient’s B team, scoring three goals, before being promoted to the first team.

Isaac made seven appearances for the senior team and was part of the squad that secured promotion to Ligue 1 in the 2024/25 season.