Tobenna ‘Toby’ Uzo believes it’s time for a breakthrough for his club and his country.

When his native Nigeria opens its World Cup run Saturday against Croatia, Uzo will be somewhere between Colorado Springs and Portland, as the Switchbacks prepare for Sunday’s 3 p.m. match against Timbers 2.

Uzo left home to start a college soccer career that ended with a first-team Big South Conference nod at Coastal Carolina in 2015 and a fourth-round 2016 MLS SuperDraft selection.

Nigeria is home, but America is where he’s spent most of the past seven years.

“I enjoy it here, to be frank, because I came here when I was 16,” Uzo said. “Most of my friends I knew before I came here. I keep in touch with some of them you know, but most of my friends that are close-knit are in the States now. I love it here. The life is more relaxed.”

His support matches his passport, and he hopes the Super Eagles can become the first African squad to make a semifinal.

“Hopefully we make it past the quarterfinals, honestly,” Uzo said.

While Uzo will have one eye on Russia, he’s also trying to increase his role in his second home.

The 6-foot-4 striker signed his first professional contract in August as the ninth-ranked Professional Development League prospect after scoring 13 goals in 14 appearances with Myrtle Beach.

After appearing in six contests and playing 113 minutes last season, Uzo returned to Colorado Springs and netted his first professional goal in the U.S. Open Cup loss to San Antonio when he headed in a corner kick.

“He’s a threat in the air, and he’s a big body up there,” Switchbacks coach Steve Trittschuh said.

Uzo has mostly remained in his reserve role, coming on as a substitute in 12 of his 13 league appearances in 2018.

The transition from being the guy in South Carolina to being a guy in Colorado Springs hasn’t always been easy.

“It’s a big switch,” Uzo said.

“The thing about being in a professional environment, you may expect yourself to be getting more than you’re actually getting, but you still have to keep your head to stay there so whenever your time comes. Right now, I’m good where I am. I’m not satisfied at all, but the confidence is going to be there.”

The only thing standing between the Nigerian and more minutes in America is a couple more goals.

“If he was scoring tons of goals, he’d be in there right now,” Trittschuh said. “I’m just searching for that person that’s going to score the goals.”

The Nigerian national team hopes to avoid the scoring struggles that have plagued the Switchbacks this season behind English Premier League strikers Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City), Victor Moses (Chelsea) and Uzo’s favorite, Alexander Iwobi (Arsenal).

Uzo says his three Cameroonians and some other teammates are supporting Nigeria.

South Korean midfielder Taeseong Kim is the only other player with his homeland represented in the tournament.

Uzo might need the help of some of those teammates to catch Nigeria’s games while maintaining his own career.

“Some of the guys have the apps on their phones. I’m definitely going to beg one of the teammates to hook it up,” he said.

“I can’t miss a minute unless we’re training or stuff.”