Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, Remo Stars, have saluted their academy product Ebenezer Akinsanmiro who won the Coppa Italia with Inter Milan on Wednesday night.
Inter retained the Italian Cup after securing a 2-1 comeback win against Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
However, Akinsanmiro not feature in the final as he was an unused substitute.
Nicolas Gonzalez gave Fiorentina the lead in the third minute before Lautaro Martinez equalised for Inter on 29 minutes.
The Argentine 2022 World Cup winner then netted the winning goal on 37 minutes.
Reacting to the Italian Cup win, Remo wrote on Twitter:“Congratulations, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro on your first cup triumph with Inter Milan.
“Our academy star boy has picked up the Coppa Italia medal 🥇 five months after making his move to Italy.
“Proud of you 👍.”
Akinsanmiro started playing professionally for Remo Stars in 2020 as an attacking midfielder.
The 18-year-old was part of the Remo side that gained promotion to the NPFL in the 2020/2021 season.
On 31 January 2023, Inter Milan signed him on a four-year contract.
He has only made the bench twice for Inter which were in the games against Napoli in Serie A and the Coppa Italia final with Fiorentina.
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COMMENTS
Am so excited about Akinsanmiro…..He is a modern day attacking Midfielder who is very comfortable with the ball on his feet…..Work harder Akin and you will be in Inter Milan starting eleven in no time……This is pure talent.
He’s more of a central midfielder than an attacking midfielder.
The Remo Stars web site says he’s an AM.
Most AMs can also play as central midfielders. E.g. Gundogan, Odegaard, De Bruyne, Modric, Alexis McAllister.
https://remostarsfc.com/our-players/
Pompei he is not doing enough to be considered an AM. He just too basic for such title so I will align with 9jarealist for him to concentrate more on CM because he has no skillset for AM. His videos are on YouTube so check him out and give a feedback on what you see. For a good example of AM he has to show some signs of players like Kelvin D’BRYNE or even Benardo Silva of Mancity.
Did you see the link I posted? Open the link, and look for Akinsanmiro. The website says his position is AM.
If you disagree, feel free to go and argue with them at Remo Stars. Maybe you know more about their player than they do.
I’m am not arguing with what Remo says about him but with what I see he hasn’t done brilliantly as AM because he has no skillet for such position. He plays simple pass and that doesn’t drive enough or pull the strings to be called AM. Huh the fact that he’s labelled AM by Remo doesn’t mean anything because he’s just too basic for such role. He will not smell that position at Inter senior level with what I’m seeing. Except he improves massively overnight an Ozil LMAO!!!
Joined Inter Milan Youth team in January and within six months, he is already considered for the first team of the main team of current champions league finalist, perhaps one of the best two teams in the world.
This guy could be the next Mikel with more attacking threats.
Missing out of the Olympics is really unfortunate. It’s not a coincidence that 90% of coaches hired by Picnic administration failed. Current nff board needs to revisit all Picnic appointment including the present head of technical dept.
If you watch the matches he played in the youth team you will notice how easy it was for him to go past them effortlessly……it was clear he is way above their level interms of technical ability and physical fitness…… Akinsanmiro also helped inter’s youth team out of a difficult position in the youth league……He just had to be promoted quickly to the main team……It baffles me how a talent like this passed through our shores and non of our youth team coaches could spot him for any of the age grade teams……Kudos to Remo stars for unearthing this great player and watch out for more wonderkids that will come out of that Remo stars academy.
Yes Remo stars are doing a great job and the next appointment for u-17 or 20 job should goto Coach Tunde of Beyond Limits Academy, I am very sure he will deliver in no time having built a solid footballing philosophy plus he has a deep insight of the best juvenile players in the youth league of Nigeria football. If not coach Manu Garba should be given back the job.
Akinsanmiro has the qualities to become a good AM, if he wishes for that. Good dribbler, has pace, uses both feet, which I consider to be very important in modern football. I feel he can do it all in the midfield. He has the ability to make significant offensive and defensive contributions to benefit his team. A box to box midfielder label might suit him best.
One thing he needs to work on is that he tends to hold on to the ball too long. In the clips I’ve seen of him, he does that a lot.
If you hold on to the ball for too long, the purpose of the dribble is defeated.
You dribble to create space and opportunity. If you dilly dally on the ball, you give your opponent time to recover. And at the highest level, your opponent will usually recover very quickly. The window of opportunity is usually 3 to 5 seconds. If you don’t utilize the opportunity in this window, your opponent will regroup in their defense, and the chance is gone.
A good pass is many times more dangerous and effective than dribbling. You dribble to create space and opportunity, then your aim should be to give an assist, or you go for goal. That is how to intelligently use dribbling to your advantage. This is what Akinsanmiro needs to improve on. Examples of midfielders who are good in this regard are Modric, De Bruyne, Odegaard, Guimaraes of Newcastle, etc. Xavi and Iniesta, the Barca midfield legends are an almost perfect example of how to use intelligent dribbling and passing to destroy your opponent. If Akinsanmiro can work on this, he will vastly improve as a player.
Let me repeat this….the purpose of dribbling is to create space and opportunity.
If you have space and opportunity, and you’re still trying to dribble, you will end up dribbling your destiny.
Opponents will view you as a fool, a person who doesn’t know what he’s doing.
Great dribbling with no end product is TOTALLY USELESS.
Use dribbling to create space and opportunity, then pull the trigger! Make the assist, or go for goal.
@Pompei… I am having gge feeling you watched Akinsanmiro’s clips just to find a weakness in his game. However, the same clips that I have watched shows a player who has a solid game, in my opinion he is already more audacious that what Mikel was in his Version of 2005 WYC… A guy who got signed from Nigeria and barely six months down the line is already a senior squad player says it all. Let us allow the youngman to continue his development and playing style that has brought him unbelievable sprut so far… In my opinion he is good to even command Super Eagles midfield already, his game has maturity far beyond his years. I am reading to hand him express attacking midfield role right now in Super Eagles. Who Sabi ball Sabi ball abeg…
Hahaha JimmyBall, thanks a lot. As person wey no get work wey I be, my job is to watch video clips of young boys with the sole purpose of looking for weaknesses. Chai, is alright!
Let me borrow a page from your book.
I also have the feeling that you posted this comment just to attack me.
From your comment, people will think I don’t see anything good in the young man. Is that what you want to achieve? Must you twist facts and tell lies, just to push your agenda?
Anybody with a reasonable command of the English language can read my post and see the high regard I have for the player. I even agreed with people in another thread who suggested that Akinsanmiro, Eletu and Daga are possible solutions to our midfield issues in the SE.
Have I done wrong by pointing out a possible chink in his armour?
Or are you implying that Akinsanmiro is the finished article, and has no need for further improvement? If the answer to that question is yes, then you are really an enemy to this boy. My candid advice to him is that if he sees you coming his way, he should run as fast as his legs can carry him, in the opposite direction.
For once, I will agree with you that you made the right analysis. The overarching goal is for Akinsanmiro to be a world class AM for his club and the Super Eagles. He needs to improve on his skill set and add goal scoring as well before he becomes an accomplished AM. I know some people have an agenda here but we will see.
Characteristics of an attacking midfielder
1. You must be a good ball carrier
2. You must have the ability to give short, long and creative pass
3. You must have a power shot
4. Ability to ship in fair amount of goals.
Ebenezer akinsanmiro possesses nos 1 and 2 qualities but 3 and 4 might be something he would need to work on.
However, an AM that is good in set pieces has a good advantage.
@Mercy… The guy has all the characteristics 1 to 4 you listed already. Make me Super Eagles coach that boy is an instant starter. Nobody has seen Akinsanmiro enough safe for Inter Milan hierarchy to conclude that he can’t shoot properly or score goals. Let us just praise God for delivering a real ball demon unto our hands… I played football and have seen enough of that boy to know his game is solid.
You Sabi…. Nobody among those pointing out his flaws has seen him in full match or training situation…..they are claiming to know more than inter Milan who promoted him to their first team after just 4 months in Italy…… Akinsanmiro has some places both on and off the pitch he can develop on just like every other player of his age but to me he has all the basic features of a modern day attacking Midfielder…. Upright posture, excellent dribbling,good passing,…..he moves forward with the ball and locates spaces for his forward players….. Esposito who played against the flying eagles is his team mate in Inter Milan youth team and he single handedly brought out the best in Esposito upon his arrival at Inter…… Italians don’t just promote young African players like that if they don’t see something special in him…… Akinsanmiro is special…… SIMPLE
@Akp (and JimmyBall), I have personally seen SEVERAL of Akinsanmiro’s FULL games for Inter’s U19 team, not just “highlight” clips (which btw are referred to as “highlights” for a reason). Several of the Inter U19 Primavera games are on YouTube.
Yes, we don’t know what the Inter staff sees regularly on the training ground, but we know what we have PERSONALLY seen, and certainly has NOT shown an “ability to ship in a fair amount of goals”. In fact (and I stand to be corrected), I don’t believe he’s yet scored for Inter U19.
Meanwhile, @Pompei, just because his FORMER club/academy in Nigeria listed him as an AM does not mean that he CURRENTLY plays the same role. The likes of Mikel was an AM in Nigeria before hitting Europe, just as Ndidi was a CD before arriving at Genk.
Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves and start piling on unnecessary pressure on kids. Ebenezer definitely has immense potential but still has some ways to go (not to wish Ebenezer ill-fate but the likes of Aliyu Datti at AC Milan would be an apt cautionary tale).
As for his not being at the U20 WC, it didn’t seem Inter was keen to release him – and of course are NOT obligated under FIFA rules to do so (loot dissimilar to the cases of Garnacho and Chukwuemeka), but ultimately a TEAM is better than a mere assemblage of players.
BEST WISHES to the FE, and to ALL of our young talent, wherever found.
If I keep repeating myself, I run the risk of sounding like a broken record.
Once again, if you read my post, you will see where I said most AMs can comfortably play as central midfielders as well. I even gave examples of players that fit this description. Gundogan for instance can play as an AM, CM or even DM. Yaya Toure, Lothar Matthaeus, Mikel, Michael Essien, Steven Gerrard, Mutiu Adepoju, Patrick Vieira are other examples, just to name a few. Sunday Oliseh could play as a CM or DM. So again, my point is on the Remo Star’s web site, he is labelled as an AM, but in keeping with what obtains among players like this, he can also play in the CM or DM role.
Take the time to properly read posts before coming up with opinions on other people’s view points.
Yes you are right he might possess all the qualities but based on what I have seen of him those are the things that I think he might need to work on.
Note, a player do not have to have all the qualities before European clubs will sign the player. A very good example is Mikel Obi. In 2005 when Chelsea and Man United were both jostling for his signature, even when his weakness in shooting the ball were evidence for all to see. Yet that do not stop big clubs coming for him.
Conversely, I agree with you that Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, Victor Eletu and Daga should be drafted to the SE. Atleast players like Mikel, Okocha, Taye Taiwo, Omeruo etc were drafted into SE immediately after their exploit for FE.
I believe he will develop into something like Kroos but can not get close to Kelvin, Modric or Ozil because he doesn’t pull the strings. Abi we are watching different clips, you don’t get bored when watching an AM on YouTube but this one is just too boring I must confess because there is nothing absolutely nothing exciting to make me horny and start getting excited. I will even rate Ovie Ejaria ahead of him in term of skillset and ball usage.
Why are you faster than your shadow lol, he’s still young and still developing, he can literally get close to Kelvin even more than him if he works hard, there’s still more than enough time for him to grow, learn and work towards it
This guy will benefit us more as a Central Midfielder in the frame of Toni Kroos who get eyes suppose see wetin person dey talk. Even as CM he can still join the attack and score some goals like Kroos but he is no where near Kelvin… https://youtu.be/ZiqIoBl89Pc
@Chima E Samuels… It’s diabolical for you to already put limitations to the young man’s ceiling… what made you feel at Inter Milan and with his progress being so smooth so far, that he can’t even surpass the players you mentioned? One thing I know with you Chima E Samuels is that you are often carried away with players who play fancy even though that often does not translate to productivity in football.
I know how much you used to praise Samuel Kalu, Joe Aribo and Ejuke Chidera. Initially I often thought once a player is not of Igbo extraction, or from South South region (Edo, Delta & Rivers) basically, you often don’t regard them much… because according to you, it’s mostly Igbos, Edos and Deltans that have contributed most to bringing Nigeria glory in football.
I often told you that football in Nigeria is highly popular in all regions and Nigeria could definitely source prodigies and elite footballers especially into our age grade teams from all corners of Nigeria. Nigeria just need a solid national grassroot, amateur and academical football programme. I have traveled the length and breath of Nigeria playing football from shell cup days to professional level to know Nigeria can more than rival Brazil when it comes to football talent.
Mind you, most of the so-called ex-eagles whose origins is Southern Nigeria actually grew up and honed their football skills in the Northern Part of Nigeria, so think about it this way, if the football culture in Northern Nigeria isn’t rich and solid, how would that be? I mentioned this because some individuals including your humble self, on this forum often come hard on any coach of the National Team, once there is a squad list that contains just a few names that are Muslims and obviously from Northern Nigeria…
We should stop that, and know every region in Nigeria has top talents, we just need the right scouting programmes and platforms to unearth them without the usual habit of Age Grade national teams concentrating more on just a few big cities in Nigeria and in the end relying on recommendations made to them by their partners who own football academies and grassroot clubs.
So finally, Chima E Samuels, I hope you are not putting a ceiling already on Ebenezer Akinsanmiro’s career, attainment and height he would reach in football already, because he is not Igbo or South South player as you like to believe?
The guy to me has potential to surpass the likes of Mamodou Diarra of Mali, Khalilou Fadiga of Senegal, Sunday Oliseh of Nigeria, Seidou Kaita of Mali, and others like Kroos, Pogba, who are all true great of the game. But yes… Akinsanmiro needs to maintain a level head and keep on working… God will be with him, protect him and above all I know he is a humble dude who knows and never will depart from the reality of his beginnings, to guide himself right to his true potentials. If that dude can develop to the element he has potential for… believe me, we have a solid midfield enforcer on our hands. Ball know im people baba… Lol. ONE LOVE…
I am not a tribal bigot my favourite Nigerian player of all time remains Obagoal. Neither am I limiting the boy, I just know that for someone to be touted something he has to show some early attributes of such but this one has not shown anything close to that but rather I see more of Kroos in him which is not bad thing because I love Kroos as well. Besides I will want to see him alongside Daga in the future SE or very soon. I’m not like many forumites that if tomorrow God forbid Bosso losses they’ll chop the head of some of our players including Daga forgetting that the coach is the one that determines team play. Make we leave the matter sha because las las we all want the good of Nigerian football but no label me say I be Igbo fan because me I love talent above wherever you hail from and I have never advocated for any of the players you named above such as kalu Ejuke or whatever haba that’s an expensive lie just to make your point.
Why are you faster than your shadow lol, he’s still young and still developing, he can literally get close to Kelvin even more than him if he works hard, there’s still more than enough time for him to grow, learn and work towards it
Akinsanmiro is special. No doubt about that.
However, he will become even more special if he stops holding on to the ball for too long.
Yes, show your skill, do your thing. But make sure you have end product to back it up.
Create space and opportunity with your dribbling and movement, then MAKE A PASS, OR GO FOR GOAL.
And be quick about it. Time is of the essence, especially at the highest level.
Having all the skill, proper posture, and all what not, with no end product, is like a hunter that went into the bush with a shiny gun, and came back empty handed. The gun he went with is very shiny. Attractive looking gun. But he came back home with no bush meat. So what will the family have for dinner? Can they cook his shiny gun and eat?
We have to keep drumming it into the ears of our talented players. Work on your end product. It is the key!