SAMUEL Chukwueze was back in action after a one-month layoff yesterday and made a goal contribution in AC Milan’s 2-2 draw at Lecce.
The Super Eagles winger was playing his first match since sustaining a hamstring injury during Nigeria’s 2-2 draw with Saudi Arabia in a friendly in Portimao, Portugal on October 13.
Chukwueze was on from the start and assisted Milan’s second goal by Tijani Reijnders in the 35th minute as the visitors took a 2-0 lead.
Lecce pulled it back to 2-2 in the 70th minute and Chukwueze was taken off nine minutes after as a stunned Milan sought to regain their lead.
The assist was Chukwueze’s first goal contribution in eight Serie A appearances for Milan since joining them from Villarreal in the summer but it was only his third start.
In England, Joe Aribo was once again left on the Southampton bench as they defeated Semi Ajayi’s West Brom 2-1 in the second-tier Championship.
Aribo, who is in the Super Eagles squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe this week and next week, has now been an unused substitute five times in the Championship this season.
The 27-year-old midfielder has started only once and been substituted on 10 times for the Saints, who rose to fourth place with yesterday’s home win.
Centre-back Ajayi, who is also in Nigeria’s latest squad, came on as an 82nd minute substitute for West Brom’s scorer Kyle Bartley.
Ajayi, 30, has made 10 Championship appearances this season, seven from the start, and scored two goals for seventh-placed West Brom.
Also in the Championship yesterday, Kelechi Iheanacho was in leaders Leicester City’s starting line-up as they lost 1-0 at Middlesbrough.
The Super Eagles striker played the full game as Leicester City’s dodgy form persisted with their second straight defeat.
Iheanacho has started eight games and made eight substitute appearances in the Championship this season, registering five goals and one assist.
In Germany, Super Eagles defender Kevin Akpoguma, who was excluded from the latest squad, was in action for all 90 minutes for Hoffenheim as they played a 1-1 draw at Augsburg.
It was 28-year-old Akpoguma’s fourth start and seventh appearance in the Bundesliga for sixth-placed Hoffenheim this term.
In Belgium, Nigerian midfielder Alhassan Yusuf was impressive in Royal Antwerp’s central midfield and played all 90 minutes as they thrashed visiting Standard Liege 6-0.
The 23-year-old Yusuf, who is yet to make his Super Eagles debut, has made five starts and five substitute appearances for fourth-placed Royal Antwerp in the Belgian Pro League this season.
[NaijaTimes]