While all eyes were on the duo of Chidera Ejuke and Alhassan Yusuf as the two Nigerians on the pitch for Antwerp against Barcelona, not many would have expected George Ilenikhena to be the one who will decide the game in favour of the Belgians.
With scores at 2-2 following a Barcelona equalizer very late into the game, Antwerp went in search of a winner which will ensure that they don’t end the group stage without a win, and Ilenikhena was the one who emerged as the hero.
He found himself one on one with the Barcelona shot stopper Inaki Pena and he showed remarkable composure to finish the move with his first goal in the tournament, one which he won’t forget in a long time.
Signed from second division French side Amiens in the summer, the 17 year old was born in Lagos to Nigerian parents who later migrated abroad. Meaning he is eligible for both countries.
Last season he went into the record books , when he became the first player born in 2006 to score in one of the top two leagues in England, France, Germany, Italy or Spain courtesy of a stoppage time equaliser for Amiens against Bordeaux. He was born after the retirement of legendary France star Zinedine Zidane.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
