FC Zurich centre-back Daniel Kelechi Ihendu has declared that representing Nigeria at the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup stands as his ultimate career goal — and he believes his recent call-up to the U-23 Eagles is the first real stride toward making that dream a reality.

Speaking to Completesports.com from Switzerland, the 21-year-old said his ambitions were ignited by footage of two iconic Nigerian sides: the team that reached the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States, and the Dream Team that claimed Olympic football gold at Atlanta 1996.

Inspired by legends of '94 and '96

Ihendu, who stands at 6ft 4in and can operate both as a centre-back and a libero, expressed pure delight at receiving the invitation. A product of Werder Bremen's academy who also trained with RB Leipzig, he has long carried those historic Nigerian squads as a source of motivation.