Seun Akanji made his competitive debut for Lillestrøm on Thursday night as the Norwegian club played out a goalless draw against Egnatia in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League play-off clash.
The 18-year-old came off the bench in the closing stages at the Arena Egnatia, featuring for the final 10 minutes as Lillestrøm looked to secure an advantage ahead of the return leg.
Akanji had previously been named among the substitutes in Lillestrøm’s last two matches but was handed his first competitive appearance for the club on Thursday.
Despite creating opportunities, neither side could find the breakthrough, with the encounter ending 0-0 and leaving the tie finely balanced ahead of the second leg.
More Read
Lillestrøm will host Egnatia at Åråsen Stadion on August 27, with the winner on aggregate securing a place in the league phase of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League.
Akanji completed a permanent move to Lillestrøm from Sporting Lagos in July 2026, signing a four-year contract with the Norwegian club.
The winger first caught Lillestrøm’s attention in January 2025 when he travelled to Norway for a trial at the age of 16. His performances impressed the club, who subsequently reached an agreement for an option to sign him when he turned 18.
Before making the move to Europe, Akanji played an important role in Sporting Lagos’ rise, helping the club secure promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and win the Nigeria National League (NNL) title.
His competitive debut marks another step in the youngster’s development as he looks to establish himself in Norwegian football and continue his promising rise at Lillestrøm.
© Bold Sports Media. All rights reserved. If sharing, kindly credit Bold Sports as the source and include a link to the original post. Unauthorised use is prohibited.
