“Naija to the world” – Monaco celebrates George Ilenikhena’s historic night vs Barca

By Monsurah Olatunji

AS Monaco celebrated Nigerian-eligible star George Ilenikhena who etched his name in the record books on Thursday night on their return to the UEFA Champions League with a thrilling 2-1 victory over La Liga giants Barcelona at Stade Louis II.

Introduced in the 59th minute, Ilenikhena scored the decisive goal in the 71st minute, marking not only his first goal in Europe for Monaco but also making him the youngest player to score for the club in Champions League history at just 18 years and 34 days old.

He surpassed the previous record held by Kylian Mbappé, who scored at 18 years and 63 days.

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Ilenikhena relocated to France with his family at the age of three and has represented France’s youth teams, including selection for the U16 squad in the summer of 2021.

His goal against Barcelona also made him the first player in Champions League history to score against the same opponent in successive games for different teams, having previously netted for Antwerp last December.

The young striker’s achievement contributed to Monaco’s first Champions League victory in 15 matches and their first-ever win over Barcelona, ending a streak of seven consecutive home defeats at Stade Louis II.

Monaco quickly celebrated Ilenikhena’s remarkable performance, taking to social media to commend their young talent. “STAR BOY! ⭐️ Naija to the world 🇳🇬🦅,” the team posted on X.

The French club further hailed his accomplishment with a message stating, “George Ilenikhena, the youngest goalscorer in our Champions League history 🦅🇳🇬.”