Nigeria-eligible Italian midfielder wins Serie A goal of the month award

Italian and on-loan Napoli central midfielder, Michael Ijemuan Folorunsho has been given the Serie A February goal of the month award, Soccernet.ng reports.

Folorunsho, 26, has been helping the Giallo Blu thrive despite their ongoing relegation battle as they’re currently 17th in the Italian top flight.

Hellas Verona were winless in February, but the highlight of the month for them was when they played a 2-2 draw against 36-time Italian Champions, Juventus at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi.

Eleven minutes into the first half, Folorunsho broke the deadlock with a Zenidine Zidane-esque volley from outside the box with his weaker foot into the top corner of Wojciech Szczesny’s goal, before Tijjani Noslin scored the second for the host.

Goals from Dusan Vlahovic and Adrien Rabiot completed the comeback for the Old Ladies, but Folorunsho’s goal was too good to be swept under the carpet and has been awarded as the goal of the month, as announced on the League’s official social media page.

What a volley! 🥵

Folorunsho is our February @cryptocom 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 winner⚽️@HellasVeronaFC pic.twitter.com/4DpaniI5zq

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) March 6, 2024

Born in Italy to Nigerian parents, Folorunsho is eligible to represent the Super Eagles, and although his nationality is Italian, he hasn’t played for the Gli Azzurri at any level.

He joined Napoli in 2019 after arriving from Virtus Francavilla but hasn’t made any appearance for them, going on loan to Calabria, Calcio, Bari – where he scored nine goals in thirty-two games, and Hellas Verona.

Folorunsho was invited by Roberto Mancini to the Italian European Championship camp for the first time in 2022.