Nigerian forward Chuba Akpom made an impressive start to life in Ligue 1, scoring on his debut for Lille in their 2-1 loss to Le Havre on Saturday night. Akpom joins an elite list of Nigerian players, including Moses Simon, Victor Osimhen, and Terem Moffi, who also scored on their Ligue 1 debuts.
The 29 year old, on loan from Ajax, began the match on the bench and came on in the second half to replace Osame Sahraoui. Although Le Havre had taken a 2-0 lead through goals from Koka and Issa Soumare, Akpom found the back of the net deep into stoppage time, reducing the deficit and marking his debut with a goal.
Editorial
Chuba Akpom’s goal on his Ligue 1 debut is a significant milestone, but it also underscores the depth of Nigerian talent making waves across Europe’s top leagues. His journey from a successful stint at Middlesbrough to challenges at Ajax, and now a promising start at Lille, highlights the importance of perseverance and seizing opportunities when they arise.
For Lille, Akpom’s immediate impact could be a sign of things to come, especially as the team seeks attacking consistency. His loan spell is a chance to revive his scoring form and remind European football of his potential. If he continues to perform, Lille could be the perfect environment for him to re-establish himself as a prolific forward.
This debut is more than just a goal it’s a statement of intent. With Osimhen’s success at Lille as an inspiration, Akpom has a blueprint to follow, and fans will be hoping he can replicate similar success.
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Did You Know?
- Chuba Akpom was the top scorer in the English Championship in the 2022/23 season, netting 28 goals for Middlesbrough.
- Victor Osimhen scored on his Ligue 1 debut for Lille in 2019 and went on to secure a big-money move to Napoli.
- Moses Simon scored on his debut for Nantes after joining the French side from Levante.
- Lille are former Ligue 1 champions, last winning the title in the 2020/21 season under Christophe Galtier.
- Akpom began his career at Arsenal’s academy and had several loan spells before establishing himself at senior level.
