Rio Ngumoha: 16-year-old Super Eagles prospect breaks silence after becoming latest agba baller

Nigeria’s latest sensation Rio Ngumoha has spoken out after announcing himself to the world following a remarkable five-goal thriller at St. James’ Park.

Ngumoha stole the show as Liverpool’s blushes were saved after a 3-2 against 10-man Newcastle United on Monday night football in the Premier League.

The 16-year-old came off the bench to steal show as Arne Slot’s Reds were saved from embarrassment after letting slip a two-goal lead against the Magpies.

Despite Liverpool enjoying numerical advantage after Newcastle went a man down in the first half, the game remained tied at 2-2 after 90 minutes a the hosts looked poised to earn a deserved point.

However, Slot took a chance on the Nigerian youngster in added time when he substituted him for Cody Gakpo in the 96th minute. Four minutes later, Ngumoha was in the right place and time to smash home a Dominik Szoboszlai’s perfectly executed dummy for the winner.

With that winner, his first-ever Premier League goal, Ngumoha made history as he became just the second 16-year-old to score a winning goal in a Premier League game, after Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney in October 2002 for Everton vs Arsenal.

The Liverpool star, who is eligible to play for Nigeria’s Super Eagles, is one day older (16 years, 361 days) than Rooney was that day, according to a post from Opta.

Ngumoha has been buzzing following his heroics for Liverpool and spoke to the club media about the goal and the chemistry with midfielder Szoboszlai.

“Normally last season, especially like academy coaches as well, even the first team coaches, they were always saying I'll make the back post, make the back post, and the fact that I made the back post obviously is just crazy,” he said in a video on Instagram.

“So when I just seen it, obviously I think Mo and then Dom literally put it through his legs and then I was like 1 v1 and then I just smashed it and then yeah.”

On the goal itself and Szoboszlai’s decision to leave it, Ngumoha confirmed he didn’t call for it as the emergency fullback knew he was there.

“Well, I think Dom just knew I was there, yeah, because he said to me even in the change room just I hope he was there and then luckily he just looked and then I was there, so yeah.”