Dukla Praha and Nigeria central midfielder Samson Okikiola Tijani is looking to follow in the steps of other Super Eagles stars who have trodden the Czech league, Soccernet.ng reports.
Peter Olayinka and Igoh Ogbu have played in the 1. Liga, while playing for the Nigerian National team, and Rafiu Durosinmi just joined Serie A side Pisa from Viktoria Plzeň.
Tijani joined RB Salzburg from his Nigerian club Collins Edwards in 2020 and was tipped to be the next big thing after the FIFA U-17 World Cup a year prior, where he captained the Golden Eaglets.
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Samson Tijani looks to emulate Igoh Ogbu
The 23-year-old has looked back on his struggles during his time with Salzburg in Austria, faulting injuries for the setback in his development.
“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,” the ex-FDC Vista said in an interview with Flashscore.
“I don’t want to give excuses, but the truth is that injury played a big role.
“Getting injured slowed me down at a crucial time, and in a club like Salzburg, there is very little room to wait.
“It is a place where young talents are constantly developing and being promoted, whether to the first team or the second team.
“Competition is intense, and if you are out for a while, others quickly step in and take their chance.
“That is simply how the club operates, and they have to keep moving forward. I believe that is what happened in my case.
“However, I don’t want to hide behind that experience or use it as a reason for not succeeding there. Football, like life, comes with setbacks and challenges, and not every chapter goes the way you hope.
“What matters most is learning from it, staying strong mentally, and continuing to work hard.
“I truly believe everything happens for a reason, and that experience has helped shape me into a better and stronger player,” Tijani said.
During his spell with Salzburg, he spent time on loan with several clubs, such as TSV Hartberg, FC Liefering, Wolfsberger AC, Fredrikstad, before eventually joining Dukla Praha on a free deal last summer.
Still, the versatile midfielder mentioned the league is underrated by many, but hopes to follow in the level of success attained by household Nigerian names like Igoh Ogbu and Peter Olayinka.
“Before joining the Czech league, I didn’t know much about it. From the outside, many people think it’s just an average league and don’t really pay attention to it,” he continued.
“But when you look at how Czech clubs perform in European competitions, you realise that it is far from easy and deserves a lot more respect.
“Coming in was challenging at first because it is a different ball game. The league is very intense and competitive, and it took time to adjust to the style and tempo. However, with time, things have settled well for me.
“The Czech League has already proven to be a good platform for Nigerian players to grow and succeed.
“Peter Olayinka played in the league and made a strong name for himself. Currently, players like David Moses and Igoh Ogbu are doing well at Slavia Prague.
“For me personally, seeing Igoh represent Nigeria at the recent Africa Cup of Nations while playing in the Czech League is a huge source of motivation.
“It shows that playing here does not limit your chances at the highest level. If he can achieve that with the Super Eagles, it becomes a challenge and inspiration for the rest of us,” Tijani concluded.
Tijani has played 15 of Dukla Praha’s 19 league games, starting ten, but without any goal contribution so far.