By Victor Kanayo
Super Eagles winger Samuel Chukwueze has been crowned the best African footballer in the La Liga Santander after a sterling performance in the 2022/23 LaLiga season in Spain.
This was revealed by his club Villarreal on Tuesday.
The award was given to him after a 2-2 draw between Villarreal and Atlético de Madrid.
Chukwueze played 37 matches this season, starting 27 of them, and scored six league goals with a brace against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on April 8, 2023.
“Samu is now enjoying his well-deserved award, after being voted by more than 30,000 fans and 26 journalists from the continent, ahead of other top African players such as Yassine Bono, Iñaki Williams, and Youssef En-Nesyri, among others,” Villarreal wrote about the Nigerian.
Responding via La Liga’s website, Chukwueze said, “I feel so happy to win this award.
“I’ve worked very hard this season, but I want to thank my teammates for making it possible. Without them this wouldn’t have been possible for me… and the coach [Quique Setién] too. When the coach believes in you, and gives you the confidence to play and enjoy yourself, it really motivates you.
“But I think I can still do more. I want to continue working hard. I’m still young, so I’m still learning. This is just the beginning.”
In all competitions this season, Chukwueze scored 13 goals and had 11 assists, the first time he would be hitting double digits for goals and assists in a term since making his debut in 2018.
In total, the FIFA U17 World Cup winner contributed five assists and scored six goals. It is the first time he has reached double figures in terms of goal contributions in the Spanish topflight
