Ilenikhena hints at Eagles call-up - Punch Newspapers
Al Ittihad forward George Ilenikhena has hinted at a possible call-up to the Super Eagles ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau later this month, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. The 20-year-old appeared to confirm his allegiance to Nigeria after posting an image on his official Instagram page on Wednesday, in which he is dressed in a Super Eagles green kit, posing beside a large Nigerian eagle statue with the word “NIGERIA” prominently displayed in the background. He captioned the post “Naija” and used Nigerian artiste Asake’s hit song, Gratitude, as background music. The post was liked by Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, sparking speculation that the youngster could be in line for his first senior invitation to the national team, although no official call-up has been announced. Born in Lagos, Ilenikhena moved to France at the age of three and grew up in Antony, Hauts-de-Seine. His background made him eligible to represent both Nigeria and France, but his latest social media post appears to suggest he has chosen to represent the country of his birth at senior international level. Ilenikhena is currently enjoying one of the most productive spells of his young career, having scored six goals in seven appearances for Al Ittihad this season, including a brace that inspired a 2-1 victory over Saudi Pro League champions Al Nassr. Boniface sparks concern with emotional Instagram message W’Cup: Falconets face anxious wait after China draw Dele-Bashiru nears injury return His rise began in France, where he progressed through the youth ranks of amateur side Antony Football Evolution before joining Amiens in 2021. Despite being just 15 at the time, he attracted considerable attention after scoring 24 goals for Amiens’ Under-17 side during his debut season, before stepping up to the senior team and scoring twice in 17 Ligue 2 appearances during the 2022/23 campaign. In June 2023, he moved to Belgium to join Royal Antwerp, registering 14 goals in 50 appearances across all competitions, and it was during his time there that he scored his first Champions League goal, against Barcelona, helping Antwerp secure their first-ever victory in the competition. His performances earned him a move to Monaco in July 2024, where he again found the net against Barcelona, scoring in a 2-1 win over the Spanish giants in the opening match of that season’s Champions League league phase. Ilenikhena went on to make 51 appearances for Monaco across all competitions, scoring 10 goals, before securing a high-profile move to Al Ittihad in February 2026 for a reported €33m. Nigeria will begin their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign in Group L against Madagascar on Friday, September 25, before travelling to face Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday, September 29. The Super Eagles are also scheduled to face Russia in an international friendly at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Tuesday, October 6, as Chelle’s side look to begin the qualifying campaign strongly following their failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and a third-place finish at the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Peter Akinbo Peter, who has been covering sports for PUNCH for close to two years, focuses on combat sports reporting, special features and human angle stories
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