Albert Hilary: Is he destined to be the next Super Eagle conquering Europe?
Young striker Albert Hilary has been coming off age right before our eyes over the last nine months. The centre forward of Plateau United, a team from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) has become a sensation in his home land already.
Already, scouts from at least five different countries in Europe had been to watch Albert Hilary play. Can this summer see him make the leap towards Europe and world recognition?
Who is Albert Hilary?
Born on November 1, 2005, Albert Hilary has yet to turn 19. Yet he is already playing in his third season as a professional footballer and he was the most productive striker in the entire NPFL this campaign.
Albert Hilary’s senior debut and first season
Albert Hilary has played only for Plateau United in his young career so far. His first season at senior level was the 2021/22 campaign. He made his senior debut on February 6, 2022, in a game against Rivers United with a 20-minute appearance off the bench. Hilary was just 16 years old at that point.
Albert Hilary went on to play in seven matches in this first season, with only one of these as a starter. Despite that Hilary immediately caught the eye as he scored four goals in those seven games, scoring on average every 59 minutes he spent on the pitch.
Albert Hilary’s second season – injury ruins it for him
Things got more difficult the following year. Things started well and on September 10, 2022, still only age 16Albert Hilary made his African Champions League debut with a full 90-minute appearance against Port Gentil.
Hilary also went on to score his first international goals later that year, he netted two in a 4-1 win in the African Confederation Cup.
The 2022/23 NFPL season began well too. Albert Hilary played in five of the opening nine rounds, he started three of those five games. However, shortly after his 17th birthday on February 20, 2023, in a game in which Hilary scored his only league goal that season, he sustained a nasty knee injury. His season prematurely finished there and then.
How Albert Hilary’s 2023-24 season was?
Albert Hilary recovered well and much faster than expected so he was ready for the start of the 2023/24 campaign. As it has proven over the last months it seems his coming of age has happened right in front of our eyes this season.
Albert Hilary finished third in the Top Goalscorer chart in the NFPL with his 12 league goals in just 23 league appearances. He helped Plateau United to finish in the top 5. Can the 18-year-old Hilary propel his side to the title in Nigeria soon? Will this be his last season at home before he starts dazzling in Europe?