By Danjuma Amodu
From the dusty pitches of Alekwo in Okpo, where two stones served as goalposts, to the Qua Ibo Church Primary School field in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Isaac James first honed his skills in the most humble of circumstances. Today, that quiet agrarian community is abuzz, with friends, allies on the Okpo Unity Initiative WhatsApp group and the larger Okpo community celebrating one of their own who has just been called up to the Super Eagles.
James, 22, is the Kogi-born left-back handed his first senior invitation by Super Eagles Head Coach Eric Chelle for Nigeria’s opening TotalEnergies AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.
It is a remarkable rise for the boy born Isaac Moses on 28 August 2004 in Okpo, Olamaboro LGA. At 1.75m, left-footed, versatile and tireless, he now wears the number 12 jersey for Primeira Liga side FC Alverca in Portugal.
He started with grassroots side Garden City Panthers FC, formerly based in Port Harcourt and now based in Abuja. His talent earned him a trial in Europe, first a 15-day stint with Danish giants FC Midtjylland in November 2021, then a try-out at French club FC Lorient.
It was there fortune smiled. In a friendly against US Avranches, he was drafted into the opposing team to balance numbers. Against his future employers, he delivered what Lorient staff described as an “excellent” performance as a makeshift left-back. Lorient signed him.
He officially left Garden City Panthers for Lorient B in July 2022. Administrative issues linked to his visa delayed his Championnat National 2 debut until December 2022. He persevered 41 appearances and three goals for the reserves before breaking into the first team.
His professional debut came on 24 August 2024 in Ligue 2, a 2-0 win over Grenoble. His first start followed against Metz on 21 September. By the end of that season, he had seven first-team appearances and a Ligue 2 winners’ medal as Lorient secured promotion to Ligue 1.
On 2 July 2025, James made a decisive move to Alverca in Portugal.
The move has been transformative. Last season he played 19 league games, starting 15, with two assists. This season he has become indispensable, starting all six of Alverca’s opening Primeira Liga matches, logging 514 minutes, providing two assists, and featuring against Porto, Sporting CP, Braga, Santa Clara, Estrela da Amadora and Nacional. In the 3-1 away win at Nacional on 12 September, he played 79 minutes.
His versatility has helped. Primarily a left-back, he is also comfortable as a left wing-back, left midfielder and left-sided centre-back, making him a favourite of Alverca coach Sérgio Ferreira.
It was no surprise when Alverca celebrated his call-up on social media: “Isaac James was convocado for the first time to represent the Nigerian National Team. Our athlete was selected for the matches in the Qualifying Phase for the CAN 2027.”
Chelle’s invitation comes at a crucial time. With FC Porto’s Zaidu Sanusi sidelined by a right adductor injury sustained on 29 August and expected to miss two months, the left-back slot needed reinforcement. While Bruno Onyemaechi remains in contention, James offers a young, in-form, left-footed alternative.
For Okpo, it is more than a call-up. It is proof that talent from fields marked by stones can reach the world stage. From Alekwo to Alverca, from Garden City to the green-and-white of Nigeria, Isaac James has turned a community’s street football dream into a national asset.
