TRABZON (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers) - On a team in which talent abounds, getting a call-up to represent Nigeria is the type of opportunity that every player wants to grab with both hands.

And Christopher Obekpa, who got the opportunity to make his debut with the national team at last month's FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 African Qualifiers, is not leaving anything to chance.

The 24-year old has vowed to try his best to help his country advance to the next round of the Qualifiers.

Obekpa, who talks about getting called up in a team like Nigeria as a privilege, is ready to make himself an asset to the side.

"It's not every day that one gets a call up to the Nigeria team that has talented players all over the world," he told FIBA.basketball. "I'm happy to have found a group of wonderful players who, despite our short time together in camp, flow together as if we have been playing together for a long time."

"I'VE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME WITH THE TEAM AND ALL THAT IS LEFT FOR ME TO DO IS SHOW MY APPRECIATION BY MAKING MYSELF AVAILABLE AS WELL AS BEING AN ASSET TO THE TEAM. THE JUNE-JULY WINDOW PROMISES TO BE EXCITING BECAUSE WE'RE NOT READY TO LIFT OUR FEET OFF OF THE PEDAL" - Obekpa

Obekpa insists that the team chemistry the older players brought to the others was the big link as they gave them advice and confidence.

"The senior players in the team are really a force to reckon with. I have not played in the senior team before now but the welcome that myself and other players making their first appearance got was encouraging," he revealed. "Now that I have the opportunity to play for the team, I want to make the best of it and make up for the times I have not been on the team."

The 6ft 11in (2.10m) centre praised the efforts of his teammates and the technical crew for winning all three of their games in the first-leg of Group B noting that the experience was very rewarding.

"I've had a wonderful time with the team and all that's left for me to do is show my appreciation by making myself available as well as being an asset to the team. The June-July window promises to be exciting because we're not ready to lift our feet off of the pedal," Obekpa warned.

"However, that is not to say that Nigeria would take Uganda, Mali and Rwanda for granted. We need to keep our focus and get the job done because the next round promises to be action packed."

The Makurdi native, who plies his trade with turkish side Trabzonspor, added that he has his sights on the bigger picture, which is the World Cup in China next year. And he believes that Nigeria are good enough to earn a ticket to the FIBA's flagship.

"Nigeria's talent base is such that it can assure the country of a place in the FIBA Basketball World 2019 Cup. Staying disciplined and focused will be key for us," Obekpa concluded.

FIBA