According to a report by The Punch on Saturday, October 24, 2026, Super Eagles rising star George Ilenikhena has inspired Al-Ittihad to victory after scoring in their 2-0 victory over Al-Diriyah in the Saudi Pro League on Friday, October 23, 2026.

The 20-year-old Nigerian striker opened the scoring in the 30th minute before Georginio Wijnaldum converted a penalty in the 77th minute to secure all three points for the Jeddah-based club.

Ilenikhena has now registered a goal or an assist in five consecutive Saudi Pro League matches since joining the Saudi Arabian side from AS Monaco during the winter transfer window.

The former Monaco forward once again demonstrated his attacking qualities by reacting quickly to a rebound inside the penalty area to give Al-Ittihad the lead against a resilient Al-Diriyah side.

His latest goal extended a productive run that has seen him deliver decisive contributions against several opponents.

The Nigerian youngster previously scored twice against Al-Nassr, found the net against Al-Fayha, provided two assists against Al-Faisaly, and recorded a goal and an assist in Al-Ittihad's 4-1 victory over Al-Ettifaq.

The victory over Al-Diriyah also maintained Al-Ittihad's position among the leading teams in the Saudi Pro League.

According to the report, the club remained fourth in the standings with 23 points from 10 matches, two points behind joint leaders Al-Qadsiah and Al-Nassr.

Ilenikhena's latest performance comes just days after he played a key role in Al-Ittihad's 4-1 away victory over Al-Ettifaq on October 20.

He scored the opening goal and assisted Houssem Aouar's strike before Youssef En-Nesyri came off the bench to score twice and complete the win.

The forward earned individual recognition for his performance against Al-Ettifaq after helping his team end a run of two consecutive defeats.

The youngster has also made an encouraging start to his international career with Nigeria.

He scored on his Super Eagles debut in their 2-1 victory over Madagascar on September 25 in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

With his consistent performances in Saudi Arabia, Ilenikhena is strengthening his case for a more prominent role in Nigeria's attack.

At just 20, the striker's ability to deliver goals and assists in successive matches is becoming an important asset for Al-Ittihad.

If he maintains his current form, he could emerge as one of Nigeria's key attacking prospects in the months ahead.