Akintola scores winner for Hull City as Super Eagles CB Ajayi gives away penalty in comeback game

Hull City returned to winning ways in the Championship with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Sheffield United at the MKM Stadium on Saturday evening.

The encounter marked the return of Super Eagles centre-back Semi Ajayi, who featured for the first time since recovering from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for seven league matches.

Despite his recent inactivity, Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has named the former Arsenal youth team captain in his 23-man squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin.

After remaining an unused substitute in the previous match against Preston North End, Ajayi was introduced for the final eight minutes of regulation time against the Blades.

The decisive moment arrived on the half-hour mark when David Akintola's back-post strike took a deflection off Chiedozie Ogbene and found the far corner — his first goal for the Tigers since joining from Turkish side Rizespor in the summer.

Sheffield United were handed a late lifeline two minutes from time after Danny Ings went down under a challenge from Ajayi, prompting the referee to point to the spot.

However, Harrison Burrows failed to convert, with his tame effort comfortably saved by goalkeeper Pandur.

The clean sheet was Hull City's first since the opening day of the campaign when they were held to a goalless draw by Coventry City, a match in which Ajayi played the full 90 minutes.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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