Nigeria defender Kenneth Omeruo has reflected on his first FIFA World Cup experience with Nigeria, describing the atmosphere and occasion as one of the most unforgettable moments of his career.

Speaking while on punditry duty with Sporty TV during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Omeruo recounted his emotions ahead of Nigeria’s opening game against Iran at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The 32-year-old was responding to a question on how players maintain focus during the tense moments before kickoff, revealing that the spectacle inside the stadium left a lasting impression on him.

“During the warming up, the crowd was something amazing. It was something I haven’t seen before,” Omeruo said.

The defender admitted that sharing the dressing room and the pitch with some of Nigeria’s most celebrated footballers made the occasion even more special.

“I was playing with big names like Joseph Yobo, Vincent Enyeama, Mikel Obi and Osaze. Being among them at that time was not something I imagined would happen that early in my career,” he added.

Despite the excitement surrounding the tournament, Omeruo said his responsibilities as a defender quickly brought him back to reality once the match got underway.

“When the game started, as a defender, you have to fight for every ball and you have to win the first one.”

Omeruo was one of the standout performers for the Super Eagles at the 2014 World Cup, where Nigeria reached the round of 16 before losing 2-0 to France.

At the age of 20, Omeruo started all Nigeria’s games at the tournament.

The centre-back went on to represent Nigeria at one more World Cup in Russia in 2018.