By Olaitan Ibrahim
Former Super Eagles and AS Monaco forward, Victor Ikpeba, has called on Nigeria’s national team to act swiftly in securing the international allegiance of George Ilenikhena, following his stunning performance in the UEFA Champions League, as per a source.
Born in Lagos, the 18-year-old striker made headlines this week when he became the youngest player in Monaco’s history to score in the prestigious competition.
His decisive goal in Monaco’s 2-1 victory over Barcelona not only helped his team but also eclipsed Kylian Mbappe’s record, making Ilenikhena a player to watch.
Despite Nigeria currently boasting a wealth of attacking talent, including African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen, along with Ademola Lookman and Victor Boniface, Ikpeba believes Ilenikhena has the potential to be a future star for the Super Eagles.
“I have been following the remarkable progress of the boy, he’s quick and will certainly be one for the future for the Super Eagles,” Ikpeba said in a statement.
“I know that he has already been capped by the French age-grade team, but we can still get him to play for the Super Eagles. It will be a tough battle, but with the right and timely approach, beginning with getting to his family, he can go on to play for Nigeria.”
The former Antwerp striker has already surpassed Mbappe’s record at Monaco, and his strike against Barcelona added another milestone to his growing reputation.
According a report, Ilenikhena is the first player in Champions League history to score against the same team in successive matches but for different clubs, having previously netted for Antwerp against Barcelona last December.
With his first goal for Monaco in only his fifth appearance for the club, Ikpeba insists Nigeria must act fast to secure his services.
“This is the time to get him in, and thereafter he can fight for his place in the team,” he concluded.
Ilenikhena’s rise began early, setting a Ligue 2 record as the youngest scorer at 16 years and 150 days when he netted for Bordeaux in January 2023.