Chukwueze named La Liga’s African player of the season

Samuel Chukwueze, Super Eagles winger, has been named the best African player in La Liga for the just concluded 2022/23 season.

The league announced the Villareal forward as the winner of the gong in a statement on Tuesday.

The Nigerian had a fantastic season with the Yellow Submarine, scoring 13 goals and providing 11 assists in all competitions.

Chukwueze produced one of the league’s outstanding individual performances of the season against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, where he scored two sensational goals in a 3-2 win for Villareal.

According to the statement, the 24-year-old was voted for by “more than 30,000 fans from all across the continent and 26 African football journalists”.

“Nigerian forward Samuel Chukwueze has been named the winner of the 2022/2023 LaLiga Santander African MVP Award, with the Villarreal CF star coming out tops after thousands of fans and some of Africa’s top football journalists voted for LaLiga’s standout African star this season,” the statement reads.

Speaking on the feat, the Umuahia-born winger said the achievement “is just the beginning” while promising to do more for his club.

“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,” Chukwueze said.

“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.”