Nigeria teenage sensation and former Golden Eaglet star Samuel Chukwueze has promised to be available next year’s African Youth Championship in Niger.
The Nigeria U-20 team sealed their qualification in style on Saturday at the Agege Stadium in Lagos as they thumped their counterparts from Mauritania 5-0 to booked their place in the Championship with a 6-1 aggregate win.
Chukwueze missed the AYC qualifiers due to an extended season with the Yellow Submarines’s team B which saw play in the Segunda Division play-off where Villarreal reached the final before losing to Elche.
After confirming his availability for the final qualifying round against Mauritania to coach Paul Aigbogun, the Villarreal midfielder was forced to miss the clash after being called up to join the senior squad for their pre-season tour.
The promotion came at the back of an impressive first season with the Yellow Submarines which saw him score over 10 goals for Villarreal’s cadet teams, including an incredible solo goal against Athletic Bilbao in the play-offs that had fans chanting ‘Messi, Messi’.
Reacting to the emphatic victory over Mauritania, Chukwueze who was part of a star studded team which Kelechi Nwakali and Victor Osimehn that failed to qualify for the last AYC, congratulated the Flying Eagles for a job well done and promised he’ll do his best to be available for the tournament .
He said: ” I want to say a very big congratulations to the team and the coach, I’m very happy for the victory over Mauritania and the qualification for the AYC.
“It was quite unfortunate that was unavailable for the match because of my club engagements. I’m disappointed I missed the match but by the grace of God I hope to be available if I’m called for to represent my country in any level.”
The former Diamond Academy star had a debut season to remember after joining the Yellow Submarines following his failed move to Arsenal, scoring eight goals for their U19s before being promoted to the team B where he bagged three goals on their way to the Segunda B play-off final where they lost to Elche.
Chukweze was an integral member of Nigeria’s team that won the U17 World Cup in 2015 where he won the Bronze Boot.
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