Cheshunt FC of England right-wing sensation, Matthias Olubori Ayodluwa Fanimo has been touted as a ‘surprise package,’ who can inspire the Super Eagles into winning the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Sports247 gathered that the former England youth international comes highly recommended with experience gained from playing for 13 clubs – including Slovenia, Bosnia and Croatia – before signing at his present base this past August.
Read Also: Tochi Oluchi, Blessing Akusobi Cited In Historic Survey Of CATS Girls | Sports247 Nigeria
Among the prominent teams Fanimo has played for are three well-known clubs in England – West Ham United, Tranmere Rivers and Ebbsfleet United – while his biggest honour to date was winning the Bosnian FA Cup with FC Sarajevo on May 26, 2021.
Fanimo is now targetting fresh glory with Cheshunt, who are based in Hertfordshire and compete in England’s regional cadre Isthmian League, where several former stars of the EPL are also currently picking up their careers.
Although Fanimo now plays in the lower ranks of English football and will clock 32 on January 28th, a Lagos-based former player and youth football coach, Sunny Epoche has forwarded the speedy winger’s name as a potent addition to the Eagles’ forward line for AFCON 2025.
Epoche, who is also the technical director of the Lagos State chapter of Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON), disclosed in a chat with Sports247 that Fanimo (who was born in Lambert, England) is eager to step out in Nigeria’s jersey as a surprise package at AFCON 2025.
“We are all seeing what Benjamin Fredrick is doing in the Super Eagles. That’s a defender who was not originally invited for the Unity Cup, but was rushed into the Eagles when he went to visit the camp, and some of the invited players did not turn up.
“I believe Fanimo can do something similar. He has experience of playing for England at under16, under-17 and under-18 levels, but he’s now determined to do well for Nigeria,” Epoche emphasised.
The amiable tactician added that experienced and committed players like Fanimo should be invited to fill spots on the Eagles’ squad to AFCON 2025, as many of the current stars are still regretting their inability to qualify for the World Cup and are reluctant to be at the continental showpiece.
