Nigerian winger Samuel Chukwueze earned warm applause from Fulham fans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday after a commanding performance that earned him the Man of the Match award in Fulham’s 2-1 victory over Spurs.

The 26-year-old, who has had to be patient for opportunities this season, impressed with his intensity, creativity, and determination. He set the tone early, delivering a clever pass to Kenny Tete inside the first four minutes that led to Fulham’s opening goal—a moment that lifted the team and calmed early nerves. Remarkably, Chukwueze had only made his first league start under Marco Silva the previous week.

He also came close to scoring his first goal for the club, striking the woodwork in the tenth minute and later missing a clear-cut chance, showing just how dangerous he was throughout the game.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Chukwueze admitted he was pleasantly surprised by the recognition but focused on the hard work behind his performance:

“I wasn’t expecting it today. But I was focusing on doing the hard work. The last months have been a bit difficult, but I kept my head down and kept working, and I took the opportunity today. They push me really hard in training and keep me motivated. We are so proud of the result today. We worked for it on the training pitch. The players gave everything on the field. We had to defend with our lives. This win is very, very important.”

Chukwueze, currently on loan from AC Milan with an option for Fulham to buy for around €25 million, now looks determined to establish himself in West London for the long term.

Fulham will turn their focus to a tough Premier League test against Manchester City on Tuesday.