WATCH: Nigeria’s Chukwueze returns to AC Milan; gets hugs from Portugal star Leao, others after AFCON exploits

The Super Eagles winger added a silver medal to the bronze he won at the 2019 edition of the continental championship

Nigeria international Samuel Chukuweze has returned to Italy after helping the Super Eagles finish as runners-up at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, Soccernet.ng reports.

Chukwueze featured in five of Nigeria’s seven games as the three-time winners reached the final of the continental championship for the first time in eleven years.

The 24-year-old winger started in the victories over Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau in the group stages and also in the final, where Nigeria lost 2-1 to the host nation.

The former Villarreal star was a substitute in the matches against Equatorial Guinea and South Africa, while he was an unused sub in the meetings with Cameroon and Angola.

After claiming a bronze medal at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt, Chukwueze will pleased to add a silver medal to his trophy cabinet despite the disappointment of losing the trophy to Cote d’Ivoire.

On Tuesday, Chukwueze was also awarded one of the highest honours in the land – Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) – alongside his Super Eagles teammates by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

After the ceremony at the State House in Abuja, Chukwueze headed straight to Italy, and he joined up with his AC Milan teammates on Wednesday.

On arriving at the club’s training ground, Chukwueze was welcomed with appreciative applause, with Portuguese superstar Rafael Leao particularly pleased to receive the Nigerian star.

Leao ran up to hug Chukwueze before others joined in welcoming the Super Eagles winger back from Africa.

AC Milan will host French side Rennes in the UEFA Europa League knockout round on Thursday, a game which may come too soon for Chukwueze.

Chukwueze will, however, look to be ready to get back into the thick of action for the San Siro giants when they make the trip to face Monza on Sunday.