Future Cup : Four players of Nigerian descent on parade for seventh-placed Chelsea

Chelsea rounded off their participation in the 2023 ABN AMRO Future Cup with a 2-1 win over Mexican opponents CF Pachuca on Easter Monday.

After three years of absence, the Future Cup, an international youth tournament for top U17 teams, returned to Sportcomplex De Toekomst in the Netherlands during the Easter weekend.

Four Nigeria-eligible players represented Chelsea in the competition, namely young professionals Tyrique George, Chinonso Chibueze and Somto Boniface, plus schoolboy Saheed Olagunju, who has agreed a scholarship with The Blues ahead of next season.

In their opening match of the group stage, Chelsea were beaten 2-1 by Paris Saint-Germain, and lost 4-1 to FC Nordsjælland in their second game in Group B.

No goals were scored in the last group match between Anderlecht and Chelsea - a result that saw the Young Blues miss out on a semifinal place. 

In their last game of the Future Cup, goals from Ato Ampah and Shaun Wade earned Chelsea their first win and as a result they finished in seventh place. 

Ajax Amsterdam will face the winner of the second semifinal between Juventus and  FC Nordsjælland in the Future Cup final this afternoon.  

Arsenal are the only English team to have won the Future Cup. Seven years ago, Nathan Tella, Tobi Omole, Joseph Olowu, Xavier Amaechi and James Olayinka helped them to win the prestigious tournament. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Copyright ANS

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com