Chris Davies Applauds Osayi-Samuel After AFCON Bronze Confirms Fitness Boost For Birmingham City

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Birmingham City head coach, Chris Davies, has showered praise on Super Eagles defender Bright Osayi-Samuel following his impressive display at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

The Nigerian international played a vital role in Nigeria’s successful campaign, which ended with a bronze medal after the Super Eagles defeated Egypt 4-2 on penalties in the third-place playoff, following a goalless draw in regulation time.

Throughout the tournament, the 28-year-old stood out for his blend of defensive solidity and attacking energy, helping Nigeria establish themselves as one of the most dynamic and aggressive teams in the competition.

Addressing the media during his pre-match briefing, Davies applauded both Osayi-Samuel and the Nigerian national team for their commendable performance, despite narrowly missing out on the title.

“It’s great to have him back,” Davies said. “I congratulated him personally on his performances, as well as Nigeria for their strong showing at the tournament.

“Even though they didn’t win it, they made their nation proud, and Bright clearly enjoyed the experience, so we’re delighted to welcome him back into the squad.”

There were initial concerns regarding Osayi-Samuel’s fitness after he was substituted in the second half of the third-place encounter against Egypt due to a hamstring problem. His early exit raised doubts about whether he would be fit in time for Birmingham City’s upcoming Championship match at St Andrew’s Stadium.

However, Davies quickly put those worries to rest, revealing that medical assessments have cleared the defender to feature in Saturday’s clash against Stoke City.

“He’s fit and available,” the Blues manager confirmed. “There was a slight issue, but after checks and training today, everything is fine.”