Chukwueze continues bench role as Swiss-born Nigerian helps AC Milan destroy Liverpool in six-goal thriller

In a pre-season friendly thriller, Italian giants AC Milan delivered a stunning 4-2 victory over reigning Premier League champions Liverpool, but it was a tale of contrasting fortunes for the club’s Nigerian talents.

Samuel Chukwueze, the Nigerian winger, continued his struggle for playing time at Milan, starting the match on the bench once again.

It was only in the 63rd minute that Chukwueze was brought on, replacing Rafael Leao, who had opened the scoring for Milan.

Over his 27 minutes of action, Chukwueze showed glimpses of promise but was unable to significantly impact the high-paced game.

Meanwhile, the spotlight belonged to his Swiss-born Nigerian teammate, Noah Okafor. Also introduced in the second half.

Okafor made a decisive impact by scoring a brace, proving too much for Liverpool’s defense and helping secure Milan’s emphatic win.

AC Milan’s attacking display showd their depth and quality ahead of the upcoming season, but Chukwueze’s continued role on the bench highlights ongoing challenges in breaking fully into the starting lineup.

Last season, the 26-year-old struggled for game time for the Rossoneri, managing just nine starts in the Italian Serie A, for a total of 918 minutes.

Chukwueze still managed to show his quality with five goals and assists contributed in those nine starts, though he ended up with 26 appearances in the league.

In contrast, Okafor’s performance may boost his case for more regular involvement, especially after an injury-blighted campaign that saw him feature just 15 times in the Serie A, with just five starts last season.

While Milan build momentum with their first pre-season victory, Nigerian fans will be watching closely to see how both talents evolve and contribute in the coming campaign.