17-year-old joker that saved Sunshine Stars’ season

At 17, Sunshine Stars forward Chinedu Nwosu bloomed late in the 2023–2024 Nigeria Premier League season but made a meal of a chance to lay down the marker during the campaign that ends on Sunday.

Nwosu has only played two games (as a substitute), and he has scored two goals plus two assists, enhancing the survival battle of the Owena Babes.

He needed only 49 minutes to prove his pluck.

 Being drafted from a local club, Akure City FC, into the NPFL shows Nwosu has the quality required by Sunshine Stars.

But as promising as the lad was, the chance to prove his worth didn’t come until four games to end the season.

 His first chance came on matchday 35, when he was introduced as a 73rd-minute substitute against Akwa United. Two minutes after coming on, he provided an assist for Lucky Nwafor to break the deadlock before winning a free kick two minutes later for Yusuf Ibrahim to double the advantage for Sunshine’s 2-0 win over the Promise Keepers.

 A week later, he rose from the bench in the 58th minute to score both goals in their 2-1 win over Remo Stars, a result that guaranteed their safety in the league and also dashed Remo’s title hopes.

“Playing for Sunshine Stars is a big privilege,” Nwosu told According Sports Extra.

“I remember when about three of us from Akure City FC were asked to join their scouting programme before the season. And we were all picked.

 “Since then, two of my friends have been playing while I kept waiting for my chance. So, when Coach Kennedy Boboye came, he told me he would give me the chance and that I should make use of it.” Nwosu said.

In 2022, after sitting for his West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination at the Akure Secondary Commercial School, Nwosu played for Akure City FC in the Nationwide League One.

He was the highest goal scorer for the club in their first season in the third tier of the domestic league and therefore attracted the attention of Sunshine Stars, who invited him for trials in 2023.

Aside from talent, intelligence is one attribute that makes young players outstanding. And if that isn’t enough to survive in the NPFL, Nwosu adds fearlessness, pace, and agility to his game.

These qualities were evident in his two goals and two assists for Sunshine Stars in a combined 49-minute action.

For his first NPFL goal against Remo Stars, he showed composure and also finished with aplomb after receiving a pass inside the box.

His second goal was even more delightful to watch, finishing off a solo run with a deft near-post goal as Remo Stars goalkeeper dived in anticipation of a square ball.

“Most times in every good team, the bench is your strength because when you have a good bench, you can as well make changes that will get you results as it did for us,” Boboye said on the late introduction of the player in their game against Akwa United.

Boboye expressed his delight after Nwosu rose from the bench to score against Remo, saying, “The ones that started deserve playing, but it wasn’t coming, and we need to make the changes for players like Nwosu who are freshers, and I think it paid off. Like some other young players on the team, he has shown great potential, and I call them my jokers.”

While playing in the NLO for Akure City FC in 2022, Nwosu missed the chance to be among the Nigerian U-17 team at the 2023 U-17 AFCON in Algeria, but that won’t deter him from achieving his dream of representing the country in the near future.

“I have always dreamt of playing for my country, and I believe it will happen one day. Thanks to Coach Kennedy Boboye for believing in me, and thanks to all my teammates too: all my coaches, my brothers, my mom, and everyone who pushes me to work hard,” the player said.