Glowing praise for Super Eagles prospect after scoring debut in Ligue 1

Published on by

Lille head coach Bruno Génésio has expressed confidence in his new Nigerian striker, Chuba Akpom, believing the forward will be a valuable asset to the club in the coming months.

Akpom, who joined Lille from Ajax Amsterdam last week, made his debut for the French side on Saturday in their 2-1 home defeat to struggling Le Havre.

Glowing praise for Super Eagles prospect after scoring debut in Ligue 1
Photo by Icon Sport

The 29-year-old started on the bench but was introduced at the start of the second half, replacing Rémy Cabella.

He made an instant impact, scoring a late consolation goal, though it was not enough to salvage a result for Lille.

Despite his disappointment with the loss, Génésio praised Akpom’s instinctive finishing and believes the striker has a lot to offer the team.

Génésio impressed with Akpom's output

“Scoring is always a good sign for a striker. Chuba was opportunistic on that play,” Génésio said after the match.

“He still needs time to adapt to our system and understand what we expect from him.

“His goal will boost his confidence and hopefully be a valuable asset for us in the final stretch of the season.”

Though yet to earn a cap for Nigeria, Akpom has repeatedly stated his willingness to represent the Super Eagles at the international level.

Genesio impressed with Akpom's output

With the defeat, Lille remain fifth in Ligue 1 with 35 points from 21 matches as they continue their push for a European qualification spot.

They currently trail league leaders Paris Saint-Germain by 18 points as the race for continental football intensifies.

Despite the setback, Akpom’s promising debut offers hope for Lille as they look ahead to the remainder of the season.

Glowing praise for Super Eagles prospect after scoring debut in Ligue 1

Andrew Randa

Andrew Randa is a veteran Nigerian sports journalist with over 20 years of experience covering the beautiful game across Africa. Andrew served as a Media Officer for Nigeria's U-20 Men's National Team for three years, offering a unique perspective on the future stars of Nigerian football.

Beyond reporting, Andrew is a pioneer in sports graphics creation within Nigeria. His expertise extends to sports kit design, making him a true multi-faceted talent in the African sports landscape.

Andrew's experience is vast, with collaborations encompassing prestigious names like Kickoff, SuperSport, the NFF (Nigeria Football Federation), and the NPFL (Nigeria Professional Football League)