BEVERLY HILLS, May 27, (THEWILL) – Injury concerns kept Samuel Chukwueze from playing an active role in the UEFA Europa League final against Manchester United that ended in an epic penalty shootout which Chukwueze’s Villarreal won with their perfect penalty kicks and the heroism of Geronimo Rulli, their goalkeeper.
Before the final, the Nigerian international missed two weeks of squad activities with the Yellow Submarines after picking up a muscle injury in their second leg semi-final draw against Arsenal in Europe’s second tier football competition, which was enough to qualify them for the final.
His presence down the wing, where his specialty lies could have been a massive boost to Villarreal, who may not have needed to go to penalties to affirm Emery’s status at the undisputed King of the Europa League, once and for all.
However, Chukwueze, who had been truly creative this season, with five assists and one goal in the Europa League, was not regrettably absent as his side toiled and fought valiantly, even though overwhelmed for stretches at times, stayed focussed and resilient to force the shootout after extra time.
His injury aside, Chukwueze was on hand to join his team in the celebrations that followed the lifting of their first ever European silverware, though it is the fourth for the serial Europa League King, Unai Emery, who sets a landmark of the most wins in UEFA-organised competitions
Chukwueze’s victory is the latest in a triumphant season for Nigerian football, in the male and female categories as Football fans in Nigeria have not stopped singing the praises of these heroes and heroines making a name for themselves internationally and doing their country proud as well.
These exemplar footballers include the record-setting Super Falcons captain and striker for the inimitable Barcelona Femeni, Asisat Oshoala. In Barcelona’s first ever UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) final which they lost to Lyon by four goals to one, Oshoala netted Barca’s only goal, as a substitute, to become the first African to do so.
But on Sunday, May 16, Oshoala rewrote the history books as she joined her teammates to lift the trophy in another record-setting display, becoming the first ever African winner of the UWCL. This is added to her club’s phenomenal domestic form that has seen Barca win 100% of all their games and Oshoala still has a chance for a treble when Barca meets either Atletico Madrid Feminino or Levante on Sunday, May 30 in the Copa de la Reina.
There were also the celebrations of English FA Cup glory for the Nigerian Leicester City pair of striker Kelechi Iheanacho and midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, who both helped their side to their first FA Cup title since 1969. In Belgium, the incredibly unstoppable Racing Genk forward, Paul Onuachu, won the Belgian Cup, which his 34 goals in all competitions merited.
Rangers FC of the Scottish Premier League set a few records of their own on their way to prevent Celtic from a 10th consecutive league title by taking the league where Super Eagles duo of Leon Balogun and Joe Aribo joined to celebrate the deserving victory and record-setting with manager and Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard.
THEWILL believes these all go to show what a resoundingly fruitful year it has been for Nigerian Football especially in some of the best teams abroad of which Chukwueze’s UEFA trophy win is simply the latest in a line of heroes and heroines making us have a reason to be proud of the country all over again.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
