In 2007, Chrisantus was a key figure for Nigeria’s U-17 national team, known as the "Golden Eaglets." The team entered the tournament with a strong reputation in youth football, and Chrisantus quickly became a standout performer. Nigeria was drawn into Group C alongside France, Japan, and Haiti.
They topped the group, scoring six goals in three matches, with Chrisantus contributing significantly to their attacking prowess. In the knockout stages, Nigeria defeated Colombia 2-1 in the Round of 16, Argentina 2-0 in the quarter-finals, and Germany 3-1 in the semi-finals, setting up a final showdown with Spain.
The final against Spain on September 9, 2007, ended in a 0-0 draw after extra time, leading to a penalty shootout. Nigeria triumphed 3-0, with Chrisantus playing a vital role throughout the campaign. He scored seven goals in seven matches, making him the tournament’s top scorer and earning him the Golden Boot.
His clinical finishing, all seven goals scored with his right foot, also saw him awarded the adidas Silver Ball as the second-best player of the tournament, behind Germany’s Toni Kroos, who won the Golden Ball.
The 2007 success with Nigeria’s U-17 team hinted at a bright future, but Chrisantus’ senior career didn’t reach the heights many predicted.
After loans to Karlsruher SC and FSV Frankfurt in Germany, he moved to UD Las Palmas in Spain’s Segunda División in 2012, where he enjoyed a relatively productive spell, scoring 20 goals in 66 appearances.
However, subsequent stints in Turkey (Sivasspor), Greece (AEK Athens), and various other countries saw his career trajectory decline.
By 2025, now 34 years old, he plays for Partinico Audace in Italy’s Serie D, far from the spotlight he once occupied.
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