When Samuel Chukwueze found out he was going to start against South Africa on Wednesday evening, the Villarreal youngster received advice from two senior Super Eagles players, Obi Mikel and Ahmed Musa.

The Diamond Academy product was preferred in the starting line-up ahead of Levante's Moses Simon and Bordeaux's Samuel Kalu.

''Ahmed Musa and Mikel Obi, they told me Samuel you know how to play ball, just do what you know how to do best. They told me not to listen to anything or be afraid,'' Chukwueze said in the mixed zone after the game against Bafana Bafana.

The former Golden Eaglets dazzler scored the opening goal 27 minutes into the contest, becoming the youngest player to score at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in the process, aged 20 years and 49 days.

Chukwueze went on to play the entire game and was very impressive so much so that he was named the Man of the Match by the Confederation of African Football.

''This is my first major international goal for my country, it's not easy to score against South Africa in this big stage.

''In every competition, you need to keep your head down, it's very hard to score this kind of goal.

''I was very, very happy. I couldn't imagine Samuel Chukwueze scoring this kind of goal in this major competition, it was an amazing thing,'' Chukwueze concluded.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : cafonline.com