Mr Viral
Nigeria U20 goalkeeper Chijioke Aniagboso recorded a major career milestone on Saturday, keeping his first clean sheet as a professional in Chornomorets Odesa’s hard-fought 1-0 home victory over LNZ Cherkasy in the Ukrainian Premier League, Soccernet.ng reports.
The match, played at the Stadion Chornomorets in Odesa, marked a personal breakthrough for Aniagboso, who had been waiting patiently for a proper first-team opportunity since joining the club last year.
Trusted with a starting role in a struggling Chornomorets side rooted to the foot of the table, the 20-year-old delivered a composed and commanding performance between the sticks.
Nigeria and Chornomorets goalkeeper Chijioke Aniagboso. Photo by IMAGO
It was Aniagboso’s first start since debuting last September in a 1-1 draw — ironically also against Cherkasy.
The Nigerian shot-stopper had since been sidelined in favour of 32-year-old Ukrainian goalkeeper Artur Rudko, but a string of poor results and a defensive crisis opened the door for Aniagboso’s return to the starting XI.
Nigeria and Chornomorets goalkeeper Chijioke Aniagboso. Photo by IMAGO
The victory was just Chornomorets’ fifth of the season and ended a dismal 13-match run with only one win and no clean sheets. With Aniagboso in goal, the defence looked far more assured, helping the team to a vital three points that lifted them off the bottom of the table and up to 18 points—three away from safety.
This landmark moment is the latest in Aniagboso’s rising career.
— Africa Soccer Zone (@AfricaSoccer_zn) March 17, 2023
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He was Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper at the 2023 U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, where he kept four clean sheets in five matches — including the 4-0 bronze medal win over Tunisia — helping the Flying Eagles to a third-place finish and qualification for the FIFA U20 World Cup.
At the tournament in Argentina, Aniagboso again proved dependable, starring in Nigeria’s wins over Italy and host nation Argentina, keeping clean sheets in both encounters as the team progressed to the quarter-finals before losing narrowly to South Korea after extra time.
— David CL Mikel Okoye (@007Supernerd) May 24, 2023
His performances earned him a move to Europe later in 2023, initially joining Ukrainian side Polissya, before a loan spell at PFC Zvyagel, and finally sealing a permanent transfer to Chornomorets in September.
With the Super Eagles’ No.1 shirt still up for grabs, Aniagboso’s progress will be closely monitored.
Nigeria and Chornomorets goalkeeper Chijioke Aniagboso (Centre). Photo by IMAGO
Nigeria’s current first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali came under scrutiny following the team’s underwhelming 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe in a World Cup qualifier last month, while the alternatives — Kayode Bankole and Amas Obasogie — remain largely untested at international level.
If Aniagboso continues his upward trajectory, he could emerge as a strong contender to lead the line for Nigeria at major tournaments in the near future. His next opportunity comes when Chornomorets travel to Obolon Kyiv, who sit 13th, next weekend.
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele turns into a ball of passion when writing about Nigerian football and its talents, whether rising stars or established legends, locally and abroad.
From the deepest corners of the Middle East, to the green fields of the Americas, to the celebrated grounds in Europe, and the rich soils of Africa, Imhons is more than glad, usually with a glass of a tasty drink nearby, to capture the essence of the game, by connecting the dots between culture, identity, and football.
