Pisa president Giuseppe Corrado has expressed significant enthusiasm following the return of Nigerian midfielder Ebenezer Akinsanmiro from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The 21-year-old talent, currently on loan from Inter Milan, rejoined his club teammates this week after securing a bronze medal with the Super Eagles in Morocco. While Akinsanmiro featured in Nigeria’s pre-tournament preparations against Egypt, he did not receive competitive minutes during the tournament, though his presence in the squad marked his first-ever senior international call-up.
Akinsanmiro’s return arrives at a critical juncture for Pisa as they battle for survival in Italy’s top flight. The midfielder immediately integrated into the squad for Friday’s high-profile Serie A clash against his parent club, Inter Milan, at the San Siro. Despite the challenging circumstances of the fixture against the league leaders, Corrado believes the youngster’s presence will drastically improve the team’s technical quality in the center of the pitch.
The Nigerian international departed the Super Eagles camp on January 17 following their third-place victory over the Pharaohs. His availability provides head coach Alberto Gilardino with a vital tactical option for the remainder of the domestic season. As Pisa continues its campaign to retain Serie A status, the club hierarchy views the return of their core personnel as the catalyst needed to climb the league table.
Giuseppe Corrado highlighted the importance of the midfielder’s return during a media briefing: “Now Akinsanmiro is back, having been away for the Africa Cup of Nations, and he’ll give us a huge boost in midfield. And other players who can raise the bar will also be returning.”
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