The UEFA Champions League is seen as the biggest club tournament in the world, so when a 17 year old scores in the group stage it naturally attracts more attention than any other scorer.
It is why there is so much buzz around 17 year old Nigerian forward Antonio Eromonsele Nordby Nusa who found the back of the net to help Club Brugge to a shock 4-0 win over FC Porto.
Introduced as a substitute in the 75th minute for his debut in the tournament, he rounded up the scores one minute from full time by reacting faster to a superthrough ball behind the Porto’s defence from Casper Nielsen, he placed the ball into the bottom corner to properly announce himself to the rest of Europe.
However for those who have tracked his progress, the goal won’t come as a surprise considering how he has progressed over the years from the Norwegian League to the Belgium League. He played top flight football in Norway for just three months.
Originally signed to the youth team of Norwegian side Stabæk at the age of 13 from Langhus IL, where he started his career. He earned quick promotion to the senior team following a solid run in front of goal. At just 15, he played and scored for the first team in a test game. It earned him a registration to play with the first team in the league.
Antonio Nusa wasted no time in making his mark with the first team in the league as he scored three goals in his first four games in the Norwegian top flight at the age of 16. Club Brugge wasted no time in snapping him up two months after his debut.
Eligible to represent Nigeria or Norway as he is born to a Nigerian father in Norway, he made his debut for the Norwegian U17 team last year before making the step up to the U18, it still doesn’t mean he can’t switch to Nigerian. The forward has a particular likeness for the country of his descent as he was pictured training in a Super Eagles jersey last year.
He is also close friends with Hertha Berlin and Super Eagles winger Chidera Ejuke. His goal today will no doubt spark a scramble for his senior international future between both nations.
OwnGoalNigeria.com also gathered that his real Nigerian name is Anthony Eromosele Nosa but spelt in Norway as Antonio Eromonsele Nusa. The goal against Porto is his first in five games this season for Club Brugge.
The goal also earned him a place in the record book of the tournament as he is now the first player born in 2005 to score in the UEFA Champions League but the second-youngest scorer in Champions League history behind Ansu Fati.
