Super Eagles winger Chidera Ejuke has made a bold declaration about his unique abilities, stating that his exceptional pace and dribbling skills give him a distinct advantage over some of football's most celebrated young stars.
Ejuke's Confident Speed Comparison with Global Stars
In a recent interview, the Nigerian international directly compared himself to elite attackers like England's Bukayo Saka, Spain's teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, and Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior. Ejuke asserted that none of these players can match his raw speed on the football pitch.
The Sevilla forward acknowledged only one contemporary as being quicker: the French superstar Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid. While there is no official La Liga speed ranking, Ejuke's claim is supported by his impressive physical metrics in the popular EA FC 26 video game, where he boasts a pace rating of 90, acceleration of 91, and sprint speed of 89.
Dribbling Prowess as a Primary Weapon
Beyond pure speed, Ejuke identifies his dribbling as his key weapon. Since joining Sevilla on a free transfer last year, he has cultivated a reputation as one of La Liga's most dangerous and direct dribblers.
His statistics underline this focus. According to Fotmob, Ejuke has contributed only two goals and two assists in 38 appearances for the Spanish club. However, his primary value lies in his ability to take on defenders, create space in congested areas, and destabilize opposition defenses with his penetrating runs.
This skill has made him a constant threat on the wing, even within a Sevilla team that has struggled for consistency and undergone several tactical changes.
AFCON Call-Up and the Need for More End Product
The 27-year-old winger is acutely aware that to ascend to the next level, he must translate his speed and dribbling into more tangible output. Ejuke has expressed a keen desire to improve his goals and assists tally.
His talents have not gone unnoticed by the national team setup. Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has included Ejuke in his provisional 54-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. The final 28-man roster will be announced by December 11, with the tournament kicking off on December 21.
Ejuke's return to the national team fold has been notable. After a five-year absence, he was recalled for the World Cup qualifiers against Gabon and made an immediate impact, convincing Chelle to retain him for subsequent matches.
Currently, the player is working to regain his peak form after a recent injury, a process supported by his club coach, Garcia Pimienta. Ejuke joined the record UEFA Europa League winners after his contract with CSKA Moscow expired, following a loan spell at RSC Anderlecht.
With his confidence clear and his unique physical attributes established, the focus for Chidera Ejuke is now on becoming more decisive in the final third. If he can marry his electrifying pace and dribbling with improved end product, he has the potential to become one of Africa's most exciting exports in European football.
