Perfect Fisayo Dele-Bashiru replacement? Former Remo Stars wonderkid bangs on Chelle’s door

The Super Eagles’ World Cup qualifying campaign has hit further turbulence, with injuries to key players like Fisayo Dele-Bashiru forcing coach Eric Chelle into difficult decisions. The Lazio midfielder who had grown into a trusted figure in the Super Eagles midfield, will be sidelined for weeks with a thigh strain. 

Since breaking into the squad, Dele-Bashiru’s contribution has been invaluable. Nine caps, two goals, two assists, all in just 508 minutes of action, tell the story of a player who made every involvement count. His equaliser against South Africa and late winner against Libya underlined his knack for delivering in key moments.

His absence strips Nigeria of drive and directness in midfield, an area that already looked stretched heading into October. 

Akinsanmiro offers Chelle a like-for-like option for Dele-Bashiru

In Pisa, however, a 20-year-old former NPFL wonderkid may have timed his breakthrough perfectly.

Ebenezer Akinsanmiro was named Man of the Match as Pisa held Fiorentina to a 0-0 draw on Sunday. He ran midfield with poise, combining creativity with discipline against Serie A opposition.

While this weekend’s award brought him headlines, his growth has been steady all season. On loan from Inter Milan, Akinsanmiro has made four league appearances already, slotting in comfortably as both a defensive midfielder and box-to-box option. 

Last year’s loan at Sampdoria gave him valuable Serie B experience; this campaign, he is beginning to show why Inter invested in him in the first place.

His profile is timely for Chelle. A midfielder capable of recycling possession, disrupting attacks, and launching transitions is exactly what the Malian has lost in Dele-Bashiru.

Chelle’s trust in youth: Frederick then, Akinsanmiro now

Calling up Akinsanmiro would not be out of character for Chelle. The Franco-Malian has already shown a willingness to throw untested players into big games. 

In June, he handed debuts to Benjamin Frederick, a 20-year-old defender fresh from being named Brentford’s Academy Player of the Season. 

Within months, Frederick joined Belgian Pro League side Dender and is now starting back-to-back World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and South Africa, proof of Chelle’s conviction in youth. 

Ebenezer Akinsanmiro vs Fiorentina (H)pic.twitter.com/bhE7PEWJFZ

— ⭐️Nero🟦⭐️ (@1nterComps) September 29, 2025

That precedent suggests Akinsanmiro could be next. Injuries to established names have created space for others to step up. This could also be redemption for the former Remo Stars youngster, who once missed out on Nigeria’s final U20 World Cup squad in 2023.

His form in Italy has not gone unnoticed, and his style offers exactly what the Super Eagles midfield needs at this delicate juncture.

Dele-Bashiru’s absence remains a setback. But just as his emergence gave Nigeria new possibilities, Akinsanmiro’s rise might do the same. With World Cup qualification on the line, Chelle faces a tough call. Yet history suggests he will not hesitate to bet on youth.