On loan Inter Milan midfielder Ebenezer Akinsamiro is seen by head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle as his joker heading into the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.
Akinsamiro who is on loan to fellow Serie A side Pisa is in line for his senior international bow at the tournament after making the list of 28 players for the tournament made public by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) last week.
Chelle holds the 21 year old in high esteem and feels he has the required ability to play his brand of football, which involves pressing high up the pitch with or without the ball.
Sources say his emergence could threaten the spot of Alex Iwobi in the middle, with Chelle unimpressed with the way Iwobi performed at the world cup qualifiers playoff and also his lack of pace when the team needs to defend.
His ability to move from one box to another is also another factor that has wowed Chelle after watching him in action in the Serie A, where he has made 21 appearances.
According to several reports in Italy, Inter Milan have also been heavily impressed with the former Remo Stars prospect that they are now willing to pay the penalty clause of €1m, which will erase the option of Pisa signing him permanently.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
