2019 Golden Boy award: Samuel Chukwueze joins De Ligt, others in 80-man shortlist
- Samuel Chukwueze is on the 80-man shortlist for the 2019 Golden boy award
- The 20-year-old enjoyed a decent run for Villarreal last season and was also in the Nigerian squad for AFCON 2019
- The Golden Boy award was shaped by Italian sports daily Tuttosport
Super Eagles youngster Samuel Chukwueze has been listed in a 80-man shortlist for the prestigious 2019 Golden boy award courtesy of his performances for the Nigeria national team and Spanish topflight campaigners Villarreal.
During the 2018-19 season, the 20-year-old Chukwueze was in superlative form as Villarreal avoided the dreaded drop to the Segunda Division, even as he played vital role in Nigeria’s third place finish at the 2019 African Cup of Nations in Egypt.
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At the last count, Chukwueze claimed man of the match prize in Nigeria’s 2-1 win over South Africa, netting the opening goal as the Gernot Rohr tutored-side progressed to the semi-final.
In addition, former Flying Eagles captain, Ikouwem Udoh- Utin, who was in action for Nigeria during June’s FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland also made the cut.
Currently, the left-back has completed a switch from Nigeria professional football league champions Enyimba to Israeli giants Maccabi Haifa.
Other players’ listed mostly European include the likes Matthijs de Ligt, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Philip Walter Foden, Mason Tony Mount, Edward Keddar Nketiah among others.
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The Golden Boy award was shaped by Italian sports daily Tuttosport and is handed out yearly to players under 21 years that ply their trade in top leagues across Europe.
Earlier, Legit.ng reported Nigeria's Super Eagles wrapped up their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Egypt with a 1-0 victory over Tunisia at Al-Salam Stadium.
Coach Gernot Rohr's men got the game off to a bright start in the early minutes of the game after Odion Oghalo handed his side the lead in the 3rd minute of the match.
The striker tapped in the ball from a goal mouth scramble from the Tunisian danger zone after Jamilu Collins made a run into the opponent's defence from the left flank.
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Source: Legit.ng
