Promising Nigerian defender Tunji Akinola is destined for great things at West Ham and is set to follow in the footsteps of England U19 international Reece Oxford.<br /><br />With Oxford and Republic of Ireland U21 international Josh Cullens, who both skippered the Hammers development squad last season presently with the first team, Akinola has worn the captain&rsquo;s armband in their absence. <br /><br />The central defender was handed the armband when he was introduced against Chelmsford City, and also led his teammates in their entertaining 3-3 draw with PEC Zwolle in a warmup game held in Netherlands on Wednesday. <br /><br />Akinola made his debut for West Ham U21s at the age of 16 in their 2-1 win over Fulham in February 2015, lasting 90 minutes on the Rush Green Stadium turf, and played 18 games for U18s over the course of the 2014-2015 season.<br /><br />Last season, he partnered Reece Oxford in central defense in a couple of matches he played for the development squad. <br /><br />The stopper was rewarded with a professional contract towards the end of the 2015-2016 campaign.<br /><br />Ifeanyi Emmanuel <br /><br />Photo Credit : whufc.com<br />