Nigerian teenager Ebenezer Akinsanmiro has won the Serie A title with Inter Milan after his team defeated AC Milan 2-1 at the San Siro on Monday night.
That win meant Inter Milan had opened up an unmatchable 17-point lead over second-placed Milan with five games left.
Even though Akinsanmiro was not in the match-day squad, he would be happy with how his team navigated the game.
Francesco Acerbi put Inter Milan ahead in the 18th minute when he headed home off a flicked ball from a corner.
Milan had their own chances in the first half through Rafael Leao but could not take their chances.
Marcus Thuram increased Inter's lead four minutes after the break with a deft low shot as it looked like it was done and dusted for the Nerazzurri.
Milan got a goal back when Nigerian forward Samuel Chukwueze crossed the ball into the Milan box and after a series of flicks, Fikayo Tomori nodded home to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
Noel Okafor and Chukwueze then combined for Milan as they searched for the equalizer but they could not beat Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
Inter held on for the win and have now bagged the Serie A title, their second in ten years.
Akinsanmiro, who is primed to be fully integrated into the Inter Milan squad next season, has played just one game for the team but has been part of the senior set-up for the past few months.
Akinsanmiro: Young Nigerian making his mark
He made his Serie A debut for Inter in their 4-0 win over Lecce in February when he replaced Davide Frattesi in the 76th minute of the game.
The 19-year-old also made the bench against Fiorentina, AS Roma, Atalanta, and Genoa to signify his growing status at the club in his first season in Italy.
He is also one of the outstanding performers for Inter's Primavera 1 squad, playing 22 games, scoring five goals with two assists from a defensive midfield and central midfield position.
Akinsanmiro's journey to Serie A kicked off at Beyond Limits, where his natural talent and relentless commitment quickly drew the attention of scouts.
His stand-out performance at the Viareggio Youth Tournament only solidified his potential, sparking intense interest from clubs across Europe vying to capture his signature.
Akinsanmiro also won the Coppa Italia last season with Inter Milan last season with a medal to show for it.
Primed for bigger things next season
The midfielder is poised to take the next step in his career as he sets his sights on getting a regular spot in Inter Milan after the Serie A win and fully establishing himself in Italy next season.
With the opportunity to train under seasoned coaches and alongside some of the best players in the world, he's eager to continue honing his skills and making his mark on the prestigious stage of Serie A.
Even though he does not qualify for a winner's medal, Akinsanmiro will be proud of his contribution to the team in the course of the season as Inter are champions again.
