Super Eagles invitee Kingsley Ehizibue is optimistic of his club Udinese's chances of beating the drop.
The 28-year-old made this known after his side's 1-1 stalemate with Napoli at the Bluenergy Stadium on Monday night. Victor Osimhen gave the away side the lead in the 51st minute, but it was Isaac Success, another Nigerian, who salvaged a point for the hosts.
The Bianconeri finds themselves in the relegation zone, occupying the 18th position with 30 points from 35 games played.
With three games remaining in the season, Udinese hold their fate in their hands. They are set to visit Lecce next Monday, host another relegation-threatened club, Empoli, on May 19, and conclude their season with an away match against Frosinone.
Ehizibue optimistic amidst Serie A survival battle
Udinese's quest for Serie A survival intensifies as they enter the final stretch of the season. With crucial matches ahead, the team is rallying behind their recent performances and gearing up for the challenges that lie ahead with former Ballon d'Or winner Fabio Cannavaro in the dugout.
In the aftermath of their stalemate with Napoli, Kingsley Ehizibue made some remarks in an interview with the club's official website.
“The point is very important for us. Now we have three finals,” remarked Ehizibue, expressing the significance of their recent result against Napoli. “(It was a) good game against a strong team.”
Speaking about compatriot Success, who scored the equalizer against Napoli, Ehizibue said, “Isaac is a very physical and strong player, he is very important for us. I'm happy for him and I hope he does another one.”
Addressing his own performances, and Udinese's fight against the drop, the rampaging wing-back said, “I thank the staff, I'm getting better and better. Now we're thinking about the next race. (The upcoming Serie A match against Lecce will be) an intense match. We have to play like we did against Bologna and Napoli.”
Ehizibue's numbers for Udinese this season
The right-back has featured in 20 Serie A matches for Udinese, with eight starts, averaging 39 minutes per game.
He has also contributed one assist. His average interceptions per game stand at 0.3, while he completes an average of 0.8 tackles per game.
What you need to know about Kingsley Ehizibue
Kingsley Ehizibue, born in Germany to Nigerian parents, relocated to the Netherlands at the age of two, growing up in Zwolle.
He began his football journey at local amateur club CSV'28. Ehizibue made his professional debut for PEC Zwolle on 29 October 2014 in a Dutch Cup match against HHC Hardenberg, followed by his Eredivisie debut on 13 December 2014 against Willem II.
On 31 May 2019, it was announced that Ehizibue would transfer to Bundesliga side FC Köln, signing a four-year contract extending until 2023.
Udinese Calcio revealed on 30 August 2022 that Ehizibue would join the club, securing a contract extension until 2026.
On 3 March 2020, he received a call-up from Nigerian national team head coach Gernot Rohr to join the squad for the fixture against Sierra Leone but did not feature in the game.
Ehizibue has also represented the Netherlands at the youth level, earning one appearance for the U21s in 2016.
How Isaac Success has fared for Udinese this term
The 28-year-old has endured a challenging season with the Biaconeri, battling injuries that have disrupted his campaign. Notably, his goal against Napoli marked his first of the season, coming upon his return from injury.
Success has featured in 25 Serie A matches for Udinese, starting seven of them, with an average playing time of 32 minutes per game. During this time, he has scored one goal and provided one assist.
After his goal against Napoli, Success stated, “The point is more important than the goal; it brings us closer to our goal.”
Reflecting on the team dynamic, he said, “It's a united team – we're like a family, and I've always been encouraged. In just a few minutes today, I was able to help, and I hope to continue doing so. We all work for each other,” he added, regarding his return from injury.
Has Isaac Success represented Nigeria at senior level?
In 2013, Success earned a call-up to the Nigeria under-17 squad for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he served as vice-captain.
Although he featured in the first two matches, he was sidelined for the remainder of the tournament due to injury.
Success received his inaugural call-up to the senior Nigeria national team for a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Zambia in October 2016.
His debut for Nigeria came on 23 March 2017, as a substitute in a 1–1 draw against Senegal at The Hive Stadium in London.
