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The Super Eagles were forced into a late defensive reshuffle following the injury of Calvin Bassey, who was ruled out with a back injury.
Chelle invited Turkey-based Chibuike Nwaiwu as a replacement for Bassey, who is expected to undergo further evaluation.
Nwaiwu’s career reflects constant growth in the ranks of Nigerian football.
A product of the country’s youth development system, he previously earned a call-up to the Nigeria U23 team during the men’s football qualification qualifiers for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Domestically, he participated in the Nigerian Professional Football League with Heartland FC and Enyimba FC before moving to Europe in 2024.
His move to Wolfsberger AC proved to be a turning point, as he played a key role in helping the club win the Austrian Cup, its first major national trophy. His performances earned him a transfer to Trabzonspor in January 2026.
Since arriving in Türkiye, Nwaiwu has made an immediate impact.
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In just 10 Süper Lig appearances, he scored two goals, registered one assist and kept three clean sheets, an impressive performance for a central defender.
Known for his physical presence, great positional awareness and versatility, Nwaiwu is capable of operating as both a centre-back and defensive midfielder, adding tactical flexibility to the team.
With Nigeria set to take on Jordan and Iran, the matches present an opportunity for Nwaiwu to impress Eric Chelle and stake his claim to a regular spot in the Super Eagles lineup.
