Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze became the fourth youngest Nigerian player to debut in the Europa League, including the qualifying rounds, after coming off the bench in the 79th minute against Rangers, Glasgow on Thursday evening.
The former Golden Eaglets sensation was aged 19 years, 3 months and 29 days when he stepped out onto the Estadio de la Cerámica (Villarreal) turf, 11 months and 26 days older than the youngest Nigerian player to debut in the competition.
Nigeria international midfielder Hope Akpan appeared in Everton's 1-0 loss to BATE Borisov on 17 December 2009 aged 18 years, 4 months and 3 days and became the youngest Nigerian debutant in the process, a record that has stood for nine years.
Ex-Nigeria U15 star Emmanuel Dennis is the second youngest Nigerian debutant in the Europa League, kitting up for Ukrainian club Zorya Lugansk in their 1-1 draw with Feyenoord Rotterdam on November 3, 2016 aged 18 years, 11 months and 19 days.
Former Dream Team VI invitee Noah Olawale Ojuola etched his name in the Nigeria history books as the youngest defender to feature in the competition and the third overall, making his maiden appearance for FC Midtjylland vs Young Boys aged 19 years, 3 months and 18 days back in the 2012-13 season.
Samuel Kalu, Eddy Onazi, Wilfred Ndidi, Imoh Ezekiel, Peter Olayinka and Uchenna Calistus Umeh complete the list of top ten youngest Nigerians to debut in the Europa League in that order.
Top Ten Youngest Nigerians To Debut In Europa League
1)Hope Akpan - Everton vs BATE - 18 years 04 months 03 days
2)Emmanuel Dennis - Zorya vs Feyenoord - 18 years 11 months 19 days
3)Noah Ojuola - BSC Young Boys vs FC Midtjylland - 19 years 03 months 18 days
4)Samuel Chukwueze - Villarreal vs Rangers- 19 years 03 months 29 days
5)Samuel Kalu - Gent vs Tottenham - 19 years 5 months 21 days
6)Eddy Onazi - NS Mura vs Lazio - 19 years 7 months 29 days
7)Wilfred Ndidi - Rapid Vienna vs Genk - 19 years 08 months 30 days
8)Imoh Ezekiel - FK Minsk vs Standard Liege - 19 years 09 months 29 days
9)Peter Olayinka - KF Skënderbeu vs Besiktas - 19 years 10 months 01 day
10) Uchenna Calistus Umeh -Ekranas Panevezys vs Hapoel Tel Aviv - 19 years 10 months 8 days
2)Emmanuel Dennis - Zorya vs Feyenoord - 18 years 11 months 19 days
3)Noah Ojuola - BSC Young Boys vs FC Midtjylland - 19 years 03 months 18 days
4)Samuel Chukwueze - Villarreal vs Rangers- 19 years 03 months 29 days
5)Samuel Kalu - Gent vs Tottenham - 19 years 5 months 21 days
6)Eddy Onazi - NS Mura vs Lazio - 19 years 7 months 29 days
7)Wilfred Ndidi - Rapid Vienna vs Genk - 19 years 08 months 30 days
8)Imoh Ezekiel - FK Minsk vs Standard Liege - 19 years 09 months 29 days
9)Peter Olayinka - KF Skënderbeu vs Besiktas - 19 years 10 months 01 day
10) Uchenna Calistus Umeh -Ekranas Panevezys vs Hapoel Tel Aviv - 19 years 10 months 8 days
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
Photo Credit : evertonfc.com
Comments 0
Leave a Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!