For Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, the journey to the Tremendous Eagles didn’t start below vivid stadium lights or on primetime tv.
It started quietly, with a telephone display, YouTube clips, and a younger boy obsessively learning the motion, aptitude and intelligence of midfield greats he admired from afar.
Now, in Morocco with Nigeria’s nationwide staff on the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Akinsanmiro resides the dream he as soon as solely imagined.
Chatting with Sports247 forward of Nigeria’s remaining Group C match in opposition to Uganda, the newly invited Tremendous Eagles midfielder mirrored on a protracted, affected person climb from grassroots soccer to the elite degree of African soccer.
His inclusion within the remaining 28-man squad raised eyebrows, but it surely was hardly unintended.
Akinsanmiro earned his call-up on the again of constant and spectacular performances for Pisa FC within the Italian Serie A this season, showcasing maturity past his years within the coronary heart of midfield.
For the soft-spoken midfielder, pulling on the inexperienced and white jersey is a second loaded with emotion.
“It has been a very long time,” Akinsanmiro stated. “I’ve been dreaming of being right here. ”
” From taking part in at Past Limits, going to the Rio event, then being signed by Inter, and taking part in on mortgage at Sampdoria and Pisa earlier than lastly being known as up — it’s an enormous step for me.”
Standing shoulder to shoulder with established Tremendous Eagles stars in camp has been each humbling and provoking.
“Enjoying within the midst of those gamers is an enormous expertise for me,” he admitted. “It means lots.”
Apparently, Akinsanmiro revealed that his soccer training didn’t come from watching full matches week in, week out. As an alternative, his inspiration got here from fastidiously chosen clips of gamers whose kinds resonated deeply with him.
“I don’t actually watch soccer like that,” he defined with a smile. “I wish to play soccer. However I watch folks on YouTube — Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, Mikel Obi, Paul Pogba. These individuals are superb.”
From Okocha’s creativity and audacity, to Mikel’s composure and tactical intelligence, and Pogba’s physicality and vary, Akinsanmiro absorbed classes that subtly formed his personal strategy to the sport.
For him, soccer has by no means been about exterior motivation or hype.
“This soccer is like my job. It’s what I like to do,” he stated. “I don’t want motivation from anyone. I simply love soccer.”
That love has carried him from native pitches in Nigeria to Europe’s aggressive leagues, and now to the most important stage in African soccer.
As Nigeria prepares to face Uganda, Akinsanmiro stays grounded, targeted, and grateful — a reminder that generally, large desires actually do begin small, even from watching heroes on YouTube.
For the Tremendous Eagles, they could simply have found a brand new midfield gem whose story is barely simply starting.
