Arsenal midfielder Tim Akinola gets his first taste of international action with Nigeria's U23 team

ARSENAL midfielder Tim Akinola moved a step closer to becoming a fully fledged Nigerian international when he received his first call-up to the Nigeria U23 squad where he participated in the Olympic Eagles qualifier against Tanzania yesterday.

Akinola, 21, got promoted to the Arsenal first team last season by manager Mikel Arteta, who was looking to boost his flagging squad. However, the youngster did not get the playing time he had hoped for at the Emirates, so was sent out on loan last January to Dundee United and at the start of the current season, he has been sent to Chesterfield.

In a big boost for his career, Akinola was invited the Nigerian U23 squad which played an Olympic qualifier with Tanzania yesterday that ended 1-1. Decided buy two penalties in each half, the stalemate that took place in Dar es Salam, will be resolved in the second leg when the two sides face each other again next Saturday.

Akinola, who was born in Nigeria but is also eligible to represent England, joined Arsenal in 2020 and featured prominently for the club at U23 level. So far this season, he has played four times for Chesterfield but he will now be unavailable for their next two games against York City and Boreham Wood.

Yesterday, two penalties, one in each half and at opposing end of the pitch decided the scoreline.  Captain Success Makanjuola netted for Nigeria in the 29thminute after Qudus Akanni was fouled in the hosts’ vital area but the Eagles were unable to build on this as they failed to take the numerous chances they created.

In the second half, the home team piled on the pressure in at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium and hit the crossbar on two occasions before Djiboutian referee Souleiman Ahmed Djama awarded them a penalty that was brilliantly converted in the 74th minute. After being pulled back, Nigeria fought tenaciously for a winner but it was not to be.

Hostilities will be resumed when the Eagles host the Tanzanians at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan on Saturday next week. The Africa U23 Cup of Nations to be held in Morocco in November 2023, will determine Africa’s flag bearers at the men’s football tournament of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.