Samuel Chukwueze: 10 Things You Didn’t Know About The Nigerian Player

Samuel Chukwueze is a Nigerian professional football player who also plays for Villarreal. Villarreal is a Spanish club and he became part of the team in 2017. Chukwueze plays for both the Nigeria national team (Super Eagles) and Villarreal as a winger/forward.

His rise to stardom came after an impressive game with the Nigerian Under-17 national team as a teenager. Ever since Samuel has become a stellar baller and continues to wow fans and spectators with his style of play.

Here Are 10 Facts About Samuel Chukwueze That Would Amaze You

1. His Early Life

The football player was born Samuel Chimerenka Chukwueze on May 22, 1999, in Umuahia Abia State, Nigeria. Born by Igbo parents, he is of Igbo descent and speaks the Igbo language.

Chimerenka grew up in a proper Christian family with his parents and two younger siblings. He has a younger brother and sister who look up to him and are surely proud of him.

On his education, Samuel attended Government College Umuahia and went on to Evangel Secondary School. It was at this point that his football career picked up and he went on to achieve great feats.

2. Beginning Of Football For the 25 Year-old

 

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The Nigerian-born football player started showcasing his love and passion for football from the age of 8. As a result, he began his youth career with the ‘Future Hope’ team in Umuahia. He then moved on to ‘New Generation Academy’ after which by 2012 he played with the Diamond Football Academy until 2017.

The young football enthusiast played for the Nigerian U-17 team from 2015 and graduated to the senior national team by 2018. He began his international career playing for the Villarreal Youth team in 2017. By 2018, he moved up to the club’s team B’ set before finally being named as part of the main club’s team.

3. Chukwueze Has Won A Lot Of Titles With His Football Skills

After successful games at the FIFA U-17 World Cup with the Nigerian U-17 team where he had 7 appearances and 3 goals, the young lad won himself a Bronze Boot in 2015. The next year, he won the ‘Most Influential Player of the Year’ at the Diamond Football Academy.

Chukwueze has also won the U-17 World Cup ‘Most Valuable Player of the Year’ in Chile 2015 as well as the MCL Cup’s ‘Most Valuable Player of the Year’ in 2016. Additionally, he won the NFF’s 2018 ‘Young Player of the Year’ award in April 2019.

4. Samuel Got To International Standards By Tapping From Big Names In The Field

The young Villarreal player admitted to looking up to and admiring top Nigerian players such as Jay-Jay Okocha. Internationally, he looks up to the likes of the Argentine football player, Lionel Messi. He got a lot of inspiration from these legendary football players and went on to harness the admired skills.

Samuel also trained under the mentorship of Hon. Victor Apugo, who is currently the president of the Super Stars Football Academy.

5. Is He Africa’s Lionel Messi or Arjen Robben?

Nigeria’s national team youngster Samuel, has oftentimes, been compared to Dutch former professional football player, Arjen Robben. This comparison is a result of a similarity in their skills and style of play.

In the same vein, the Abia-born player has also been referred to as the African Lionel Messi by Trabelsi, Gernot Rohr’s assistant. Trabelsi’s reference to the player arises from his personal opinion that Chukwueze is the next greatest African football player right after Mohammed Salah of Egypt and Senegalese Sadio Mane.

6. A Video Of His Mother Praying For Him Recently Made Waves In The Internet

 

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In the wake of Nigeria’s national team match fixture against Egypt for the 11th of January 2022 in the Afcon 2021 draws, a video began to make waves on the internet. This video was of Mrs. Chukwueze praying for her son’s success in the game. The 30-second video showed Samuel’s mother on her knees holding her son’s legs while praying in both English and Igbo languages.

7. He Suffered An Injury Which Prevented Him For Playing With The National Team

Since May 2021, an injury sustained by the Spanish Club player kept him away from the field of play. The repercussion of this was that he was unable to partake in any match with his national team, the Super Eagles against the 2021 Afcon games.

However, after the long-term hiatus from playing due to the injury, Samuel returned to the training field in October 2021. It seems like he had gotten a lot better and maybe fit enough to partake in the Afcon 2021 games with the Super Eagles.

8. Is Samuel Chukwueze In A Relationship?

25 year old Samuel Chukwueze confirmed during an interview session on Instagram, that he is in a relationship. The Villarreal forward had an interactive session with his fans on social media where he asked them to ask him any questions.

In response to a request by a fan who asked to be his friend, the player said ‘Aah no ooh, my girlfriend has a gun please’. He further warned fans who indicated an interest in him to stay away as he was in a relationship.

READ ALSO: Wendie Renard- Bio, Profile, 7 Interesting Facts About The Footballer

9. The Winger Made A Multi-million Naira Donation To Support Grass-root Football

The international star who started from the grassroots in Umuahia decided to support his humble beginnings. In December of 2020, the athlete made a mind-blowing donation of training gadgets to Super Star Football Academy.

In a bid to support the grass-roots football in his home country, Samuel made the multi-million naira donation to the Academy of the man who mentored him while he was starting off his career, Hon Victor.

10. He Is Listed As Part Of Nigeria’s Team At The 19th Afcon Campaign

Despite not being sure if his early-2021-sustained injury would let him partake in any serious games, Samuel recovered in due time to make the Super Eagles Afcon 2021 campaign team.

He was named alongside forwards such as Ahmed Musa, Henry Onyekuru, Odion Jude Ighalo, Alex Iwobi, and Kelechi Iheanacho.

Complete profile of Samuel Chukwueze