Nigerian star outshines Ronaldo, primed to take Osimhen's spot

Nigerian forward George Ilenikhena delivered a decisive two-goal performance to help Al-Ittihad secure a 2-1 victory over Al-Nassr.

​The 20-year-old striker scored twice inside the opening 22 minutes at the Alinma Bank Stadium to maintain his club's status as serious Saudi Pro League title challengers.

​Ilenikhena opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a header before doubling the advantage with an acrobatic, Haaland-esque strike in the 22nd minute.

​Conversely, Al-Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo failed to register on the scoresheet, enduring a frustrating evening as his side dropped crucial points in the early-season standings.

​Brazilian forward Ângelo Gabriel managed to halve the deficit for the visitors in the 36th minute, but Al-Ittihad's disciplined defensive block easily absorbed the second-half pressure.

​The dominant performance highlighted exactly why the Al-Ittihad board authorised a reported €33 million transfer fee to sign Ilenikhena from AS Monaco in February 2026.

​That valuation established him as the most expensive Nigerian teenager in football history, surpassing the €28 million fee Leicester City paid for Kelechi Iheanacho in 2017.

The exceptional showing arrives at an ideal moment for Nigeria national team head coach Eric Chelle ahead of the September international break.

​Ilenikhena officially committed his international future to the Super Eagles over France in July 2026 following direct discussions with Chelle regarding his role in the squad.

​A senior call-up now appears highly probable, particularly after primary striker Victor Osimhen recently sustained an injury after scoring during Galatasaray’s 3-2 victory over Başakşehir.

​The Al-Ittihad forward is perfectly positioned to fill the attacking void ahead of Nigeria’s AFCON qualifier clashes against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.