Former Golden Eaglets captain Samson Tijani says he is hoping to rebuild his career in the Czech Republic after an injury-hit spell at RB Salzburg stalled his early momentum in Europe.
The 23-year-old Nigerian midfielder, who now plays for Dukla Praha, believes the Czech top flight can provide a platform similar to that used by fellow Super Eagles players Igoh Ogbu and Peter Olayinka.
Tijani began his career in Nigeria before joining Austrian side RB Salzburg from Collins Edwin FC in 2020, shortly after captaining Nigeria to victory at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup.
Photo Credit: RB Salzburg/X
His rise also brought senior international recognition. Tijani made his debut for the Nigeria national team in October 2020, featuring in a 1-0 friendly defeat by Algeria.
However, his time in Austria was disrupted by injuries and fierce competition for places, limiting his opportunities to establish himself at the club.
Tijani says he hopes to revive his career in the Czech league, reflecting on his injury-hit spell at RB Salzburg in an interview with Flashscore.
“I see it as part of life and part of my journey as a footballer, at Salzburg, I wasn’t really able to show my full quality” Tijani told Flashscore.
“I don’t want to give excuses, but the truth is that injury played a big role,” he added.
Samson Tijani in action for Dukla Prague. Photo Credit: Dukla/X
The midfielder explained that the structure of the Salzburg system leaves little room for setbacks.
“Getting injured slowed me down at a crucial time, and in a club like Salzburg, there is very little room to wait,” he said.
“It is a place where young talents are constantly developing and being promoted, and if you are out for a while, others quickly step in and take their chance.”
Tijani stressed that he does not view the experience as a failure, but as a learning phase.
“I don’t want to hide behind that experience or use it as a reason for not succeeding there,” he said.
“Football, like life, comes with setbacks and challenges. What matters most is learning from it, staying strong mentally and continuing to work hard.”
Tijani. Photo Credit: Getty Images
After several loan spells across Europe, Tijani joined Dukla Praha on a free transfer last summer and says the move has changed his perception of the Czech league.
“Before joining, I didn’t know much about the league,” he told Flashscore.
“From the outside, many people think it’s average, but when you look at how Czech clubs perform in Europe, you realise it deserves much more respect.”
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The midfielder added that the intensity of the competition has been a key adjustment.
“It was challenging at first because the league is very intense and competitive, but with time, things have settled well for me” he said.
Tijani led the Golden Eaglets at the 2019 FIFA U17 World cup. Photo Credit: Imago
Tijani said seeing Igoh Ogbu earn a Nigeria call-up while playing in the Czech Republic has strengthened his belief that the league does not limit international prospects.
“For me, seeing Igoh represent Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations while playing here is a huge motivation,” he said.
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“It shows that playing in this league does not stop you from reaching the Super Eagles.”
