In the build-up to CHAN 2024 taking place in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, the Confederation of African Football turned the spotlight on Chisom Chikatara, the Nigerian forward whose name still echoes in tournament history — www.isagoal.com reports.
In a recent post on CAF Online, Chikatara was mentioned among a rare few who scored hat-tricks in the African Nations Championship. His standout moment came during the 2016 edition in Rwanda when he came off the bench to net three goals in the second half, helping Nigeria defeat Niger 4-1. That feat earned him a place alongside Zambia’s Given Singuluma and Morocco’s Ayoub El Kaabi, the only other players to have achieved the same in a single CHAN match.
Nicknamed the Kolanut Boy due to his background in Abia State, Chikatara turned heads with a striking performance that made fans erupt. Despite Nigeria’s early exit, his goals left a lasting impression on the tournament.
“I dedicate the goals to everyone who believed in me — my late mum, my father, my fiancée, and my teammates,” Chikatara told allnigeriasoccer.com after the match.
CAF noted that performances like his often become turning points in players’ careers, sometimes opening doors beyond the continent.
This article was updated 5 days ago