By Dayo Awoniyi
Nigerian midfielder Ebenezer Akinsanmiro delivered a standout performance over the weekend, earning the Man of the Match award in Pisa’s goalless draw against Fiorentina in Serie A.
The 20-year-old, currently on loan at Pisa from Inter Milan, commanded the midfield with authority and composure, outperforming high-profile players including Moise Kean and veteran goalkeeper David De Gea.
Akinsanmiro’s assured display — marked by intelligent positioning, sharp distribution, and disciplined defensive work — drew praise from both supporters and analysts, further cementing his status as one of Nigeria’s most promising young talents.
A product of Nigeria’s Remo Stars, Akinsanmiro made the move to Inter Milan in 2023 and was loaned out to Pisa to gain top-flight experience.
His impact has been immediate and impressive, with performances like Sunday’s reinforcing his potential to break into Inter’s senior squad — and eventually the Super Eagles setup.
While the match itself ended without goals, Akinsanmiro’s influence was unmistakable, dictating the tempo and disrupting Fiorentina’s rhythm throughout the contest.
For the Ogun State-born midfielder, the Man of the Match award is not just an individual accolade but a clear statement of intent.
On a night where more established names failed to assert themselves, the Nigerian youngster seized the moment — and the spotlight.
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.
