After logging 1662 minutes, Chelsea loanee who has chosen France over Nigeria scores first PL goal

It has taken France U23 international of Nigerian descent Lesley Ugochukwu 1,662 minutes spread across thirty-four matches to score his first-ever goal in the Premier League. 

The Chelsea loanee got on the scoresheet for the first time in his Premier League career as Southampton forced West Ham United to a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

After a goalless first half, Bowen completed a well-executed counter-attack just two minutes into the second half to open the scoring for the Hammers.

For much of the match, Bowen's strike looked set to decide the contest, leaving Saints frustrated by wasted opportunities, but Ugochukwu had other ideas in the third minute of added time.

A slick exchange between Tyler Dibling and Kyle Walker-Peters set up Ugochukwu, who rifled his shot past West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.

Born in Rennes, Lesley is from a footballing family - his younger brother Chibuike Ugochukwu, a France U16 international, plays for Rennes academy team while his uncle Onyekachi Apam needs no introduction. 

Allnigeriasoccer.com has extensively reported that the Ugochukwus remain committed to the French national teams despite being eligible to play international football for Nigeria through their parents.

Lesley was courted by former Nigeria coach José Peseiro and is among the dual-national players on current manager Eric Chelle’s radar ahead of next month’s Unity Cup, but he has made it clear that he has no intention of filing paperwork for a nationality switch.

As things stand, Southampton sit on 11 points — the same tally Derby ended with in their infamous 2007–2008 campaign.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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