Nigerian youngster Ebenezer Akinsanmiro has been named among the best Under 21 players in Serie A this season, yet he still can’t get a look in from Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle.
The 20 year old midfielder, starring for Pisa in his first full campaign in the Italian top flight, landed eighth in Sofascore’s rankings for the opening 11 matchweeks. He scored a rating of 6.90, placing him in elite company alongside hot prospects like Real Madrid’s Nico Paz and Juventus talent Kenan Yildiz. Only two Africans made the list: Akinsanmiro and Senegal’s Mikail Faye.
Akinsanmiro has played in ten of Pisa’s eleven matches, racking up an assist and controlling midfield with a calmness far beyond his years. Seven of those outings has seen him complete the full 90 minutes as Pisa continue to trust him in key fixtures. His standout performances came in September’s 0-0 draw with Fiorentina and the dramatic 2-2 clash at AC Milan in late October, where he set up one of Pisa’s goals under the San Siro lights.
The Beyond Limits Academy graduate kept that form going into November, impressing in the 2-2 draw at Torino and a gritty 1-0 win over Cremonese before hobbling off injured after 67 minutes. That knock is believed to be one reason Chelle opted not to include him for last month’s World Cup playoff ties against Gabon and DR Congo, a decision that raised eyebrows among fans calling for fresh midfield options.
Nigeria has been criticised lately for lacking bite in midfield and for being bullied in the big moments, with many tipping Akinsanmiro as the answer. Mobile, sharp on the ball, and tidy in possession, he ticks nearly every box the Super Eagles has been missing. Chelle is finalising his squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, kicking off next month, and it’d be a major shock if the teenager doesn’t eventually break in.
For now, Akinsanmiro’s priority stays with club football. Pisa head to Sassuolo on Monday night, another chance for the rising star to prove he’s not just one for the future, he’s ready right now.
