- Ajax defeats Fortuna Sittard 5-0 with Super Eagles forward Chuba Akpom starring
- Ajax striker Akpom registered 36 touches and completed 79% of his passes
- The club’s coach Francesco Farioli praised Akpom’s work ethic and performance
Ajax delivered a masterclass in their 5-0 demolition of Fortuna Sittard, with Chuba Akpom’s inspiring performance taking centre stage.
The Super Eagles forward and former Arsenal player, was instrumental, playing an important role in two of the five goals that sent the Amsterdam club flying in the Eredivisie game.
Akpom wasted no time getting involved. By the 24th minute, he had already set up Bertrand Traoré’s goal, doubling Ajax’s early advantage. His efforts didn’t stop there. As the clock wound down, Akpom latched onto a loose ball in the 87th minute to seal his first Eredivisie goal of the season, capping off a brilliant night for him and the team.
Ajax's dominance was clear from the start, with Kenneth Taylor opening the scoring in the 9th minute, assisted by Traoré. By halftime, Fortuna Sittard’s woes deepened when they were reduced to 10 men, making Ajax’s task much easier in the second half.
The match resumed in the second half with more pressure from Ajax, and goals continued to come in. Youri Baas scored Ajax’s third in the 58th minute, while Devyne Rensch added a fourth in the 71st minute, setting the stage for Akpom’s final goal three minutes from time.
Beyond his goal and assist Akpom’s overall contribution is applaudable. He had 36 touches, fired three shots on target, and delivered a 79% pass completion rate, connecting with 15 out of 19 passes. His physical presence was notable as well, winning four out of five aerial duels and three out of four on the ground.
Akpom’s performance not only helped Ajax climb to seventh on the Eredivisie table but also caught the attention of his coach Francesco Farioli, who chose him over Wout Weghorst.
The Nigerian forward was initially not slated to start against Fortuna Sittard but was included in the starting lineup as a replacement for first-choice striker Brian Brobbey, who sustained an injury during Tuesday's final training session. Farioli later explained his decision,
“Wout is a fantastic player, but Akpom has been with us for three months and has done a great job so far. We must appreciate what he brings to the team.”
The Nigerian striker's goal and assist on Wednesday, September 18 now bring his tally to five-goal involvements in just nine matches since the Champions League qualifiers started before the league season, continuing his fine form after scoring three goals in the European competition qualifiers.
AFCON 2025: Match details as Super Eagles aim for solid start against Benin in qualifier game
Previously, TheRadar reported that the Super Eagles of Nigeria would commence their journey to the 2025 AFCON with an opening qualifying fixture against their West African neighbours, Benin Republic.
The teams recently faced off in June 2024 during a FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifier, where Benin, under the guidance of Gernot Rohr, stunned the three-time African champions with a 2-1 victory in Abidjan.
