Nigerian forward George Ilenikhena has written his name into UEFA Champions League history after becoming the youngest African player to make 15 appearances in the competition.

UEFA confirmed the milestone, which Ilenikhena reached at 19 years and 157 days, surpassing the previous record held by Nigerian football legend Nwankwo Kanu, who achieved the feat at 19 years and 260 days during his time with Ajax in the mid-1990s.

The achievement places Ilenikhena among an elite group of young talents to reach such consistency in Europe’s biggest club competition at a tender age.

A Rapid Rise Through Europe

Born on August 16, 2006, Ilenikhena moved to France at the age of three and rose through the French youth football system. He began his professional career with Amiens SC, where his performances at youth level and in Ligue 2 quickly drew attention.

That promise earned him a move to Royal Antwerp in 2023, where he announced himself on the European stage. One of his standout moments came when he scored a dramatic 92nd-minute winner against FC Barcelona in the Champions League—an unforgettable breakthrough goal that signalled the arrival of a fearless teenager.

In July 2024, Ilenikhena completed a transfer to AS Monaco, and he has continued to impress, featuring regularly in both Ligue 1 and European fixtures. At Monaco, he also set another record, becoming the club’s youngest-ever scorer in the Champions League, overtaking none other than Kylian Mbappé.

Breaking a Historic Nigerian Record

The record he has now broken was set by Nwankwo Kanu during a golden era with Ajax, a period that culminated in Champions League glory and launched Kanu into a legendary career. That benchmark had stood untouched for decades—until Ilenikhena’s rise.

Opinion: A New Chapter for Nigerian Football

Breaking a record held by Nwankwo Kanu is no small feat—it is a symbolic passing of the torch. Ilenikhena’s journey so far reflects the evolution of African footballers in Europe: younger, bolder, and trusted on the biggest stages earlier than ever before.

What stands out most is not just the record itself, but how naturally he has adapted to elite competition. Scoring decisive goals, breaking club records, and now rewriting continental history at 19 suggests this is only the beginning.

If managed properly, Ilenikhena has all the tools to become Nigeria’s next global football icon. For now, he has given Nigerian fans something priceless—hope that another Champions League-winning chapter may soon be written, just as Kanu once did.