The Unity Cup seems to have breathed new life into Samuel Chukwueze’s career.
The AC Milan winger has struggled for both club and country in recent months, but looked lively in Brentford, scoring against Jamaica on Saturday.
More notable than the goal, however, was his tactical brief in the team. Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle fielded him as a no.10, tucked in behind the strike duo but with freedom of movement.
Some might say he repaid that faith, and to be honest, if any kind of use is to be found for him in Chelle’s narrow diamond, it would have to be in that position. The previous experiment, with Chukwueze playing as one of the wide central midfielders, was a complete disaster. However, is that enough to anoint the Milan bencher as the answer? There are some caveats.
The level of competition
With all the respect in the world, (an understrength) Ghana and Jamaica are far from the sternest examinations for any serious opponent.
Both teams brought no end of intensity (the Black Stars, especially, were keen to play their part in the rekindling of an age-old rivalry), but left a lot to be desired in their structural fidelity.
Chukwueze found himself in quite a bit more space than most teams would afford in more competitive circumstances, and so his performance can only tell us so much.
And, speaking of his performance…
How good was Samuel Chukwueze really?
There is a sense in which what he was able to actually produce is a bit overrated. He did a far more serviceable job than most expected, granted. However, it would be a mistake to judge him solely on the basis of lowered expectations.
For as much of the ball as he saw, goal aside, there was little of impact. His actions consisted mostly of trying to work space for his own shots, quite a few of which were blocked, and dribbling, which everyone already knows he can do at a decent clip.
While a no.10 can be and is expected to directly contribute to the team’s scoring ambitions (even more so in Chelle’s system), a part of that should be by setting up others, rather than seeking glory for himself.
Samuel Chukwueze has started and impressed in all four games of Eric Chelle's tenure.
Resurgence 📈 pic.twitter.com/X4gqCo8EhB
— Soar Super Eagles (@SSE_NGA) June 2, 2025
In fairness, perhaps his inability to set up his teammates was not simply for lack of trying, because…
Chukwueze’s passing bag is tiny
The 26-year-old does a lot of things well. Nwankwo Kanu he is not.
It is not even just the touch and weight of the passes that is not there, it is also the decision-making, as well as the timing of release. Time and again, Chukwueze would jink his way past his marker, be faced with green turf and multiple runs ahead of him, and either play the wrong pass or underhit the right one.
Some have blamed him for Jamaica’s first equaliser, as it was from his giveaway that the Reggae Boyz broke. That seems unfair; after all, if forwards cannot take risks to open up the opposition, then who can?
That said, there is too little care to his actions, and that comes down to a technical shortcoming that appears to be baked in.
