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Chizaram Ezenwata, son of former Gombe United player Ndubuisi Ezenwata, made his Premier League 2 PL2 debut for Chelsea in a disappointing 5-0 loss to Manchester City at the Joie on Friday night.
The England U17 international of Nigerian descent came off the bench in the final seven minutes of the match. He was one of four players of Nigerian heritage involved in the game, alongside Chelsea’s Landon Emenalo and Manchester City’s Justin Oboavwoduo and Michael Okeke.
Manchester City took the lead just three minutes into the game through a penalty converted by Divin Mubama. The second goal came early in the second half when Matty Henderson-Hall capitalized on a defensive error from Emenalo. Mubama struck again in the 52nd minute to make it 3-0 before adding a third goal in the 67th minute. Although another Mubama goal was ruled out for offside, Ryan McAidoo completed the rout with a late strike in the 86th minute.
Despite Chelsea’s struggles, Ezenwata has been impressive for the club’s U18 side this season, scoring seven goals in 12 appearances across league and FA Youth Cup matches.
Editorial
Chizaram Ezenwata’s debut in the PL2 is a significant milestone in his young career, even though it came in a tough defeat. The transition from youth football to the reserves is always challenging, and playing against a dominant Manchester City side provided a valuable learning experience.
His goal scoring form at the U18 level suggests he has the potential to develop into a top forward. However, breaking into Chelsea’s senior team will require patience, consistency, and continued development at the youth level.
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For Nigerian football, Ezenwata is another exciting prospect with Nigerian heritage playing in a top European academy. Whether he ultimately chooses to represent Nigeria or England at the senior level remains to be seen. If he maintains his current trajectory, he could become a player to watch in the coming years.
Did You Know?
Chizaram Ezenwata is eligible to represent both Nigeria and England at the international level.
Chelsea’s U18 team has produced several Premier League stars, including Mason Mount and Reece James.
Manchester City’s Justin Oboavwoduo, who also featured in the game, is regarded as one of the top talents in City’s academy.
Ezenwata’s father, Ndubuisi Ezenwata, played professionally in Nigeria for Gombe United.
PL2 serves as a bridge between youth football and senior football, with many players using it as a stepping stone to first-team football.