Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has brought Samuel Chukwueze back to life!

After arriving at AC Milan from Spanish side Villarreal, the Nigerian international did not get what he hoped for when he joined the Italian giants, which was a starting spot in the Milanese giants, but unfortunately for the Super Eagles winger, that was not the case.

What a good thing happened to the talented striker!

When the squad announcement came, few expected the former Villarreal winger to play a pivotal role in Nigeria's Unity Cup triumph. Yet as the confetti fell at Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium, Samuel Chukwueze stood as the tournament's unlikeliest architect of victory.

His moment of magic came first against Ghana - a perfectly weighted cross that carved open the Black Stars' defense to set up Nigeria's crucial second goal. Then, when the final against Jamaica hung in the balance, it was Chukwueze who rose to the occasion with a strike of pure quality to put the Super Eagles ahead. The coach's decision to withdraw him late in the game mattered little - the damage had been done, the doubters silenced, and Nigeria's path to glory secured through the boots of their resurrected star.

What Eric Chelle did for the talented Nigerian boy!

The Unity Cup became the stage for an unexpected tactical revelation as Mali's Eric Chelle worked his magic with Nigeria's Super Eagles. In a bold departure from convention, the gaffer deployed Samuel Chukwueze not as a traditional winger, but in a central playmaking role behind the striker - and the results were nothing short of transformative.

Stationed in the number ten position, the AC Milan attacker rediscovered his verve, becoming the creative heartbeat of Nigeria's attack. His intuitive link-up play with Cyriel Dessers and midfield cohorts recalled his most devastating Villarreal form, capped by a well-taken goal that confirmed his positional rebirth. While skeptics may question the caliber of opposition, the 26-year-old's performances suggested something more profound than mere form - this was the emergence of a refined, multifaceted attacking threat.

As Serie A's August kickoff looms, San Siro faithful now ponder an intriguing question: has their Nigerian asset been hiding untapped potential in plain sight all along? Chelle's experiment may have just rewritten Chukwueze's career trajectory.

Hazem Mlhem |

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Hazem Mlhem est un rédacteur sportif expérimenté, animé par une passion pour le football africain.