Inter Milan midfielder on loan to Pisa, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, has been included in Nigeria’s final 28-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
This marks the 21-year-old’s first call-up to the senior national team, highlighting his impressive rise after making his Serie A debut earlier this year.
Akinsanmiro’s selection comes after a strong start with newly promoted Pisa, where he has emerged as one of the standout players of the season.
u
He has made 11 league appearances, contributing one assist and receiving man-of-the-match honours twice.
His energy, discipline, and passing ability have been particularly notable as the team seeks stability in Italy’s top league.
Recently, he returned from a shoulder injury that sidelined him during matches against Sassuolo and Inter Milan.
He was brought on at halftime against Parma, where he energized Pisa’s midfield and nearly set up an equalizer, thwarted only by a teammate’s poor finishing.
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle is said to see Akinsanmiro as a dynamic midfield option: a proactive runner, a precise passer, and a box-to-box player who brings qualities that Nigeria currently lacks behind Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka.
Nigeria will begin its training camp on December 15 in preparation for AFCON, and Akinsanmiro is expected to be one of the first players to arrive.
Read also:
- Onyedika breaks through as Club Brugge confirms his call-up to Super Eagles’ AFCON 2025 Squad
- Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, Lege Miami trade words on Instagram
- Tinubu urges Super Eagles to shift focus to AFCON
The 21-year-old may earn his first cap the following day in a pre-tournament friendly against Egypt.
The Super Eagles will kick off their AFCON campaign on December 23 against Tanzania, with the tournament starting two days earlier.
Inter Milan, who retain ownership of the midfielder, are closely monitoring his development.
They included a €6 million option to buy and a slightly higher buy-back clause when loaning him to Pisa, allowing the former Italian champions to maintain long-term control while assessing his future next summer.
Akinsanmiro’s journey from Remo Stars to a finalist at Viareggio, and from debuting with Inter Milan to becoming a key player at Pisa, has progressed rapidly.
