Former Nigeria U20 invitee, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro netted his first professional goal as Sampdoria claimed a thrilling 5-3 victory over Cesena in a Serie B matchday 9 clash on Sunday.
This victory marked Sampdoria's third win of the season and lifted their points tally to 11 after nine matches, positioning the club in the mid-table.
Akinsanmiro, who is on loan from Inter Milan, has been growing into his role at Sampdoria. Despite limited starting opportunities—just three starts in nine league appearances—the Nigerian midfielder is averaging 36 minutes per game with a total of 323 minutes played this season.
Akinsanmiro’s impact off the bench
Substituted on in the 73rd minute, Akinsanmiro made an instant impact in the match. His first significant contribution came in the 81st minute when his shot was saved by Cesena’s goalkeeper after receiving a cross from Massimo Coda. However, Akinsanmiro wouldn’t be denied for long.
In the 88th minute, during a swift counterattack, Akinsanmiro latched onto a pass from Gennaro Tutino, calmly slotting a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner of the net to give Sampdoria a decisive 5-3 lead.
This marked a significant milestone for the Nigerian, scoring his first professional goal.
Match highlights and key stats
The game began at a frenetic pace, with Cesena taking the lead in the 13th minute through Giuseppe Prestia, only for him to score an own goal seconds later. Goals from Meulensteen, Tutino, and Akinsanmiro ultimately sealed the victory for Sampdoria.
Akinsanmiro’s individual stats for his 17-minute cameo were impressive: he managed 15 touches, completed 7 out of 10 passes (70% accuracy), and registered three shots on target.
He also won two out of three ground duels, completed one dribble, and was involved in several key moments despite limited time on the pitch.
This match will be one to remember for Akinsanmiro as he looks to build on this momentum in the coming fixtures for Sampdoria.
