Azeez on Odemwingie Comparisons: ‘I Need to Create a Name for Myself’

Femi Azeez has responded to the growing wave of comparisons between himself and former Super Eagles forward Osaze Odemwingie, telling reporters he appreciates the flattery but is focused on forging his own identity in Nigerian football, FootballInNigeria.com.ng reports. “I’m hearing it every day now, but I’ve got to stay humble and create a name for myself,” the Millwall winger said. The comment is the kind of measured, grounded response that has defined how Azeez has handled his rapid rise first at Championship level, and now on the international stage.

The Odemwingie parallel is understandable on the surface. Both are technically sharp, left-footed right wingers who can cut inside and shoot. Both have a Nigerian father but were raised outside the country Odemwingie was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and came to Nigeria’s attention through his time at Lokomotiv Moscow and West Brom. Azeez, born in England on June 5, 2001, came through the Reading academy, spent several years in the Championship with the club, then moved to Millwall in August 2024 in a permanent deal. The physical profile, the running style, and the tendency to arrive late into the box have fuelled the comparison among fans. But Azeez was clear. The comparison honours him. It does not define him. New-to-Bet9ja fans backing Azeez and the Super Eagles this summer can claim the Bet9ja YOHAIG welcome bonus before the AFCON qualifier window in September.

The Numbers Behind the Hype

Any discussion of Azeez’s potential needs to start with what he actually produced in 2025/26. In 37 Championship appearances for Millwall, he scored 11 goals and provided 7 assists 18 goal contributions from a winger in 2,992 minutes of football, placing him in the top percentile of Championship attackers for output per minute. He was Millwall’s leading scorer, named in the official EFL Championship Team of the Year, and won the EFL Championship Player of the Month award for February 2026 after contributing to five goals in five matches. Millwall finished third in the table and reached the play offs. That is a standout individual season by any measure.

His technical profile supports the hype. Azeez attempts 4.04 dribbles per 90 minutes and averages upwards of 8 attempted crosses per 90, the kind of numbers that reflect a winger who is both direct and prolific in his delivery. He is primarily left footed despite operating on the right wing, which gives him the natural tendency to cut inside that has drawn the Odemwingie comparisons and the attention of Premier League scouts. Wayne Rooney, speaking on The Overlap, specifically tipped Azeez as one of the Championship players most likely to make the step up to the top flight this summer.

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Aston Villa’s Interest and the Millwall Standoff

The transfer picture is active. Ipswich Town submitted a bid of approximately €20 million for Azeez during the summer window, but Millwall rejected it outright. That valuation gives a floor for what the Lions consider an acceptable offer. Aston Villa, who won the UEFA Europa League under Unai Emery in 2025/26, are now understood to have registered interest in the winger. The caveat is that Villa need to sanction outgoings before committing to significant incomings this summer, which means their interest is real but not yet formalised into a concrete bid.

Azeez himself was deliberately evasive on the subject of his future, telling Flashscore that he is thinking about preparing for next season with Millwall and enjoying time with his family, rather than engaging with the speculation. That is the public line, at least. The Premier League ambition is unambiguous. “The Premier League is the pinnacle of football. I’d love to play there. I’m going to do whatever I can to get there,” he told Sky Sports. A player who says that clearly, after the season he has just had, is not going to stay in the Championship indefinitely.

The Super Eagles Chapter Just Beginning

What has added an extra dimension to Azeez’s summer is his introduction to the Super Eagles at the Unity Cup in May. Eric Chelle gave him his debut in the semi-final against Zimbabwe and he repaid the trust with a brace in a 2-0 win. Nigeria went on to lift the trophy, and the fan reaction to Azeez’s performance put him firmly in the public conversation about who belongs in Chelle’s squad going forward. He has now accumulated two caps, and his comments about Lookman and Osimhen were revealing earnest, without being sycophantic. “They’re among the best players in Africa, so naturally I want to learn from them and improve my game,” he said.

Millwall blocked his call-up for the Poland and Portugal friendlies in June, and Banik Ostrava’s Bewene Abdullahi was named in the squad in his place. The club’s decision to prioritise their own interests over an international appearance in a non-competitive match is understandable at this point in the season, but it will not hold indefinitely particularly if Azeez moves to a bigger club where the leverage shifts. For Nigerian football followers wanting to track his progress, everything from Super Eagles squad updates to AFCON qualifier markets is available on FootballInNigeria’s Bet9ja promo code page.