After scoring a stunning goal in Nigeria’s Unity Cup triumph over Jamaica, Super Eagles winger Samuel Chukwueze opened up in an exclusive chat with Victor Modo, sharing heartfelt reflections on his national team journey, challenges at AC Milan, and the sacrifices behind his rise to stardom.
The former Villarreal star, who has spent seven years with the Super Eagles, spoke with emotion about what it means to wear the national colours.
“I think wearing the jersey sometimes is heavy. Sometimes this Nigerian jersey is heavy but we wear it with honour. The most important thing is to wear it with honour. I think this jersey is too precious. When you are in the national team you have to fight for every moment, every day. It’s a privilege to represent your country.”
“You fight because you want to keep coming back. If you lose your position another person is going to die because there are so many good players out there that want this opportunity. When you are called up you have to fight for every moment. During these seven years I have been fighting for every moment. I don’t care how it’s going to be, two minutes, three minutes. Even if I don’t play I know I’m going to keep fighting to come back for it.”
Chukwueze’s fierce patriotism was evident in his Unity Cup performance, and so was his humility in acknowledging the fierce competition for places within the national setup.
“Nigerian Fans… Jesus Christ!” – Chukwueze on Fan Pressure
Asked which supporters are tougher—AC Milan fans or Nigerian fans—Chukwueze chuckled, offering an honest assessment of the intensity he faces on both sides of the continent.
“Milan fans or Nigerian fans? I don’t know which one is more tough. I don’t know. I don’t know actually. Milan fans are cool a little bit but Nigerian fans Jesus Christ. They are something else. They are something else.”
“When they are so passionate about football, Nigerians love football. Milan fans love football also but Nigerians love it more. Like Nigeria, football is something that unites us together.”
The Nigerian winger, who endured a mixed debut season with Milan, recognized the unrelenting expectations that come with both jerseys—especially when performances dip.
From Beatings to Breakthroughs: Chukwueze’s Childhood Fight for Football
Chukwueze revealed that his path to professional football was anything but easy. Raised in a household that valued education over sports, the 25-year-old had to fight—literally and figuratively—for his dream.
“No, I wasn’t. My mum didn’t allow me to play football. It was a little bit difficult. You have to go to school or you choose football or you don’t play football at all. So I don’t have any option. So I have to choose going to school. But I have to sneak out to go and play football.”
“So when I come back late, I know I’m going to get the punishment. My uncle, they say I should stop playing football, I should focus on my studies. You know, all those things. But in my head, I know actually I want to play football. I even dream playing with Kano, Agbo and Jojo Kocho.”
“Seven o’clock in the morning, I left without doing anything, without eating. I’ll play football outside till seven in the night, I’ll come back home. This is how passionate I was about football.”
“Now it’s actually funny, but at that time, it wasn’t funny. My mum gave me, I was even asking her, are you sure you’re the one that gave birth to me? I told her I want to leave the house. I’m not staying, I’m not sure you’re my mother.”
Today, those childhood struggles are a source of laughter within the family, but they also reflect the determination that defines Chukwueze’s career.
“My Mum Is Like Having Milan and Nigerian Fans in One”
One of the most emotional moments in the interview came when Chukwueze described his mother’s influence—a woman who once punished him for playing football but now stands as one of his biggest critics and supporters.
“She sees me walking on the pitch, she says, you don’t walk on the pitch, you have to run, you have to push. Sometimes, when I don’t play well, that’s how I have fun. She’s so passionate. If she sees me and I don’t score, she’s actually mad at me.”
“She’s someone I actually need beside me. Actually, yes. It’s something I actually have. Like, if I don’t play, she’ll ask me, you don’t train well, or you don’t run well in the training. Why is the coach not playing you?”
“She’s everything. In one person, she’s everything. Perfect.”
Her tough love echoes the spirit of millions of Nigerian fans and mirrors the very pressure Chukwueze thrives under.
Chukwueze on Milan Struggles: “One of My Worst Seasons”
Chukwueze’s debut campaign with AC Milan fell below expectations, and he didn’t shy away from labeling it a personal and collective disappointment.
“Last season is something we don’t want to talk about. It was a bad season for the Milan fans and for everyone. It’s one of my worst seasons, I’m not going to lie. Not winning anything, not playing too much. Not having the stats, although I have the stats, but not playing too much.”
“Going out from the Champions League, losing a cup, losing in the league, Scudetto and everything. So, it was a bad season for everyone. Coupled with injuries and everything, changing a coach, bringing a new coach. So, it was upside down.”
Still, he reserved high praise for Milan’s fanbase and expressed hope for redemption next season.
“The Milan fans… they’re the best fans in the whole world. Because they deserve more. They travel with us in the rain, in the cold. Removing their clothes, chanting and supporting us. Unfortunately, we failed them this season.”
“And I hope next season, everything will go well in Milan. I hope [to] win the Scudetto, win the Coppa Italia to make up with everything and qualify for the Champions League for the upper season.”
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