Super Eagles defender Igoh Ogbu has revealed why he turned down several transfer offers from Europe’s top leagues to commit his future to Slavia Prague.
In an interview with Footy-Africa, the 25-year-old centre-back explained his decision to sign a contract extension with the Czech champions, keeping him at the club until 2027.
Ogbu had been strongly linked with moves to Turkish giants Besiktas and Fenerbahce, as well as French side Olympique Lyon, after a string of commanding performances in Slavia’s Czech Chance Liga title-winning campaign.
However, he chose to remain in Prague, citing the club’s long-term vision and Champions League ambitions as key reasons.
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“For me, extending my contract is a good decision and I believe it’s the best one,” Ogbu said.
“I understand the system and the philosophy here. I will also be able to play in the Champions League, which is something I’ve always wanted.”
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The former Lillestrom defender was a standout figure in Slavia’s 2024/25 domestic double-winning campaign, anchoring a defence that conceded the fewest goals in the league. His performances also earned him a first senior call-up to the Nigerian national team.
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Ogbu had previously represented Nigeria at youth level, playing at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland.
But it wasn’t until the Unity Cup in June that he finally made his Super Eagles debut, featuring against Ghana and Jamaica and coming off the bench against Russia in a friendly.
“Playing in the Unity Cup was a great experience,” Ogbu said. “Getting my Super Eagles debut was a dream come true. Now I just want to keep gaining more experience and earning more caps.”
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With his club future settled, Ogbu is already focused on the season ahead—defending the Czech title and helping Slavia Prague navigate European competition.
“The upcoming season will be tough because now we have to prepare to defend the title. We must stay focused and continue doing what we do best,” he said.
“It’s important that we gel as a team—we have new faces, so we need to understand each other and push ourselves to be even better.”
