Allnigeriasoccer.com can report with certainty that the Nigeria Football Federation have held direct talks with Rangers centre-back Emmanuel Fernandez ahead of the announcement of the Super Eagles squad for this month's friendlies against Iran and Jordan.

Fernandez and his representatives are increasingly confident of a call-up following positive discussions with officials at the NFF.

There is now a strong possibility that manager Eric Chelle will invite the former Peterborough United defender to train with the squad as part of his integration into the national team setup—similar to the approach taken with Felix Agu last summer.

Born in London, Fernandez is also eligible to represent England but has consistently indicated that his international future lies with Nigeria, his father’s country of origin.

At club level, the 24-year-old is enjoying an outstanding campaign with Rangers, registering six goals in 26 appearances across all competitions.

His impressive form earned him the club’s Player of the Month award for January 2026.

Fernandez's performances have also drawn comparisons to Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, particularly for his aerial threat and effectiveness from set-pieces.

The Super Eagles are scheduled to face Iran on March 27 before taking on Jordan four days later in Antalya, Türkiye. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel