Semi Ajayi Gains Premier League Promotion With Hull City A.F.C. After Play-Off Final Victory
Semi Ajayi has secured promotion to the English Premier League after helping Hull City A.F.C. defeat Middlesbrough F.C. 1-0 in the Championship play-off final on Saturday.
The Super Eagles defender played the full match at Wembley Stadium as Hull City booked their return to the Premier League after nine years away from the top flight.
The match looked set for extra time before Oliver McBurnie scored the winning goal in the 95th minute after taking advantage of a mistake by Middlesbrough goalkeeper Sol Brynn.
It was a tense and closely contested game, with both teams creating few chances. Hull City nearly took the lead in the first half when McBurnie’s header struck the crossbar just before the break.
In the second half, both sides continued to play cautiously as they searched for the breakthrough. Substitute Joe Gelhardt came close late on, but his effort went wide.
Just when the match appeared to be heading for extra time, McBurnie found the decisive goal to send the Hull City fans into celebration.
Ajayi, who joined Hull City last summer, made 24 league appearances and scored once during the promotion campaign. The 32-year-old will now return to the Premier League for the first time since featuring for West Bromwich Albion F.C. in the 2020/21 season.
The defender has also been named in Eric Chelle’s squad for Nigeria’s international friendlies next month.
