Tuesday, April 23, 2024

FA Cup : Arsenal’s Nigerian-born midfielder helps Chesterfield progress to third round

Fifth tier Chesterfield progressed to the third round of the Emirates FA Cup at the weekend with a 2-0 win against EFL League Two club AFC Wimbledon at Plough Lane.

Arsenal loanee Tim Akinola played a part in the win for The Spireites, coming off the bench to replace Tom Whelan with twelve minutes to go.

It was the Nigerian-born midfielder’s second game in the competition having made his debut in the first round win against Northampton Town on November 5.

Armando Dobra slotted home past goalkeeper Tzanev to break the deadlock in the 44th minute after a delightful pass from Joe Quigley.

And in the 74th minute, Jeff King’s cross from 30 yards caught the keeper out of position and the goal secured Chesterfield’s passage into the third round.

The 21-year-old Akinola is spending the entirety of the season at Chesterfield in a bid to play on a regular basis after recovering from a serious ankle injury he suffered during a loan spell at Dundee United in the second half of last season.

He trained with Nigeria’s Olympic National Team last month before an U23 AFCON qualifier against Tanzania.

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