It's been a gloomy season for Ajax.Eliminated from the Europa League Conference and the Dutch Cup, the red-and-white club has fallen behind in the title race and is fighting for a place in the European Cup at the end of the season. However, Ajax can count on Chuba Akpom, who kicked off the final stretch of the season with a brace at the weekend.
Ajax can breathe a sigh of relief.On a run of 04 games without a win, the club returned to winning ways on Sunday March 31, beating Zwolle 3-1 on Matchday 27 of the Eredivisie. Chuba Akpom was instrumental in the victory.The Nigerian scored twice (24th, 84th).The striker has now scored 12 goals in all competitions and 9 in the league in 19 games, including 5 starts.
Meanwhile, Chuba Akpom is the most effective striker in the Eredivisie. The 28-year-old striker averages a goal every 76 minutes played. This is quite simply the best average for a player with at least 9 league goals.
Au départ puis à la finition de l’action, Chuba Akpom inscrit son 12e but de la saison ! 🫡
pic.twitter.com/7GwbmwjEYM— Naija Football 🇳🇬 (@NaijaFootball_) March 31, 2024
Chuba Akpom keeps the European dream alive
Thanks to Chuba Akpom, Ajax can dream of European Cup qualification. and that would save the Lancers' calamitous season. Completely run-down, they have already said goodbye to the title, 28 points behind leaders PSV Eindhoven. What's more, the club has been eliminated from the Dutch Cup. The same is true of the Europa League Conference, where they have been eliminated after being knocked out of the Europa League... In other words, the 36-time Eredivise champions will be giving everything they've got in the last 7 games to keep their European hopes alive.
In 5th place (44 pts), Ajax are 12 points behind Twente, who occupy 3rd place in the third qualifying round for the Champions League. Chuba Akpom's team-mates are 8 points off 4th place, synonymous with the Europa League group stage.
It should also be noted that the teams ranked 5th to 8th face off in the play-offs, which will offer the winner a ticket for the 2nd qualifying round of the Conference Europa League and given Ajax's season, even a ticket to the smallest European Cup would be a nice consolation.
A poor start to the season forgotten
For Chuba Akpom, the end of the season is the ideal opportunity to put his poor start with Ajax behind him.The striker only scored his 1st goal on November 02, 2023 against FC Volendam. This despite having signed in August.
The transfer came after his outstanding 2022-2023 season. The London-born Nigerian had shone for Middlesbrough, scoring 28 goals in 40 Championship games. The Arsenal-trained player finished as top scorer. With his poor start to the season behind him, Chuba Akpom can now concentrate on finishing the season and setting his sights on Europe. With just 07 games to go, he can keep up the momentum.And perhaps, who knows, earn a first call-up to the Nigeria squad...
