Kano Pillars’ Junior Lokosa says his selection in Nigeria’s World Cup provisional squad is a ‘dream come true’.
Gernot Rohr’s 30-man preliminary list saw Henry Onyekuru, Brown Ideye and Junior Ajayi omitted but Lokosa, Enyimba’s Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Plateau United’s Dele Ajiboye were the only Nigerian topflight men to make the cut.
The 24-year-old underlined his mind-blowing scoring performance this season, netting a brace in the Sai Masu Gida’s 3-1 triumph over fifth-placed Kastina United on Sunday, hitting 18 goals in 20 matches.
Needing to outshine seven others, including Odion Ighalo and Ahmed Musa in the attack for a final spot, the forward is upbeat about his chances if continues to give his ‘best’.
“I give God the glory and the coach [Gernot Rohr] for this opportunity,” Lokosa told Goal.
“It is a dream come true for me. Every Nigerian player – either at home or abroad definitely wants to represent the country. It is a wonderful privilege for me to make the [World Cup] list.
“I am ready to take this great opportunity and do my very best to justify my inclusion. I have been giving my best in each day for any team I play for because I believe that’s what we make me a better person and that has got me to where I am now.
“It was the decision of the coach to give me the golden chance and I am focused on giving a good account of myself in the Super Eagles’ camp. I believe that I can make it to Russia.”
The Super Eagles will begin their sixth World Cup campaign against Croatia on June 16 at the Kaliningrad Stadium before facing Iceland and later Argentina in Group D.
