AS Monaco striker George Ilenikhena has officially rewritten the record books as the youngest African footballer to reach 15 appearances in the UEFA Champions League. The Lagos-born forward achieved this historic feat during Monaco’s fixture against Real Madrid on Tuesday at the age of 19 years and 157 days.
His 18-minute cameo at the Santiago Bernabeu allowed him to eclipse the previous milestone held by Nigerian legend Nwankwo Kanu, who reached the same number of appearances 103 days later in his own career.
UEFA confirmed the achievement on Wednesday, celebrating the rise of the teenage sensation who moved from Nigeria to France at age three. Ilenikhena developed his skills within the French youth ranks before launching his professional journey at Amiens SC. His rapid ascent in European football now places him ahead of some of the continent’s greatest icons in terms of early-career involvement at the highest level of club competition.
The previous record-holder, Nwankwo Kanu, established his mark in April 1996 while playing for Ajax during a semi-final victory over Panathinaikos. Kanu eventually amassed 60 appearances in the tournament, contributing five goals and 13 assists throughout a career that included a Champions League title in 1995. While Ilenikhena is just beginning his journey, his early consistency in the competition suggests a promising future on the global stage.
The official UEFA statement regarding the milestone read: “George Ilenikhena makes history. Youngest African player to reach 15 UCL games.”
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