Super Eagles and Hull City defender Semi Ajayi played all 90 minutes at Wembley Stadium as the Tigers sealed a return to the English Premier League with a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 32-year-old narrowly missed out on the Championship play-offs last season with West Bromwich Albion. He was eventually released by the Hawthorns, and he chose to join a Hull City side which narrowly escaped relegation to the Sky Bet League.
Ajayi’s presence provided stability at the back for Sergej Jakirovic’s side, helping them finish 6th in the EFL Championship, and then go all the way to secure a top-flight return for the first time in a decade.
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Super Eagles stars react to Semi Ajayi’s EPL return
The former Arsenal defender took to his Instagram to celebrate his side’s victory, recreating Kobe Bryant’s famous pose and got several reactions from Nigerian players and fans.
Atletico Madrid’s Ademola Lookman replied with ‘Congrats brother ‘, while former Super Eagles captain William Troost Ekong responded ‘Big SEM congrats brother ‘.
Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi, alongside Coventry City’s Frank Onyeka, Sevilla’s Akor Adams, Southampton’s Joe Aribo, Fulham’s Calvin Bassey and ex-Super Eagles captain Vincent Enyeama all sent in their congratulations.
Alex Iwobi and Ola Aina had slightly different responses to Ajayi’s post. The Fulham midfielder replied with ‘BIG’, and Aina appeared to understand the context portrayed by the Hull City defender. He replied ‘Serious pic ‘.
Adebayo Akinfenwa, Daniel Amokachi, Nathaniel Chalobah, Callum Robinson, Erik Pieters, Kean Bryan, Jake Livermore and Jamilu Collins all sent in their congratulatory messages as well.
Semi Ajayi’s contract with Hull City runs out next summer, although the club have the option to renew his deal for another year.
