Former coach of Arsenal Arsene Wenger watched almost the entire games of the Africa Cup of Nations which took place in the Ivory Coast, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Nigeria went all the way to the final before losing 1-2 to the host in the final of the tournament. Wenger was particularly impressed by the rise of Nigeria international defender Semi Ajayi.
Wenger signed Ajayi from Charlton in 2013 during his time as the coach of Arsenal. Although Ajayi didn’t get to make a first team appearance, he was involved in pre season games and trained with them during the duration of his three years stay at the club.
Now an established senior international football and a seasoned campaigner in English football with West Brom, Wenger made reference to his rise in international and club football as a testament to why clubs should be patient and invest in young players.
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” You see the money involved and you wonder if the young players will get the chance to grow and fulfill their talent. Patience is required most times when you invest on young players not all of them will make it to the top level but you have to try”, Wenger said while speaking in his new role as FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development.
” I was at the AFCON where I saw a player for Nigeria Ajayi who started with us at Arsenal. He has grown into a really good footballer not many saw that years ago while he was with us developing”, he remarked.
