By Dayo Awoniyi
Nigeria international Christantus Uche produced a match-winning display as Getafe earned their first victory of the La Liga season with a 2-1 comeback win over Celta Vigo on Sunday.
The 24-year-old midfielder, a product of FC Abuja’s academy before moving to Europe through Hamburg SV’s youth setup, was at the heart of the turnaround.
He first laid on a precise assist for Andrian Liso’s equaliser in the 47th minute before calmly slotting home the decisive goal midway through the second half.
Beyond his goal and assist, Uche’s composure in possession, vision in transition, and relentless energy drew widespread praise.
Spanish media described him as the “heartbeat” of José Bordalás’ side, while fans serenaded him long after the final whistle at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez.
For Nigeria, his form comes at a critical time with World Cup qualifiers on the horizon. Having impressed at youth international level, Uche now looks ready to step up as a creative force for the Super Eagles midfield.
If his early-season impact is any indication, Getafe may have found their new midfield talisman—while Nigeria could soon benefit from another dependable performer flourishing in Europe.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
