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By Bolaji Okunola
Nigerian international Semi Ajayi scored Hull City’s first Premier League goal in over nine years during their top-flight return against Manchester United Saturday afternoon.
Ajayi reacted fastest in the 17th minute to turn home a rebound after Oli McBurnie’s initial shot was saved. The goal was Hull’s first in the top division since May 2017, ending a wait that spanned their entire nine-year spell in the EFL Championship.
The 32-year-old center-back’s milestone strike—his first Premier League goal since January 2021—helped set the tone for Hull, with Nobel Mendy adding a second before half-time. The performance comes as a positive sign for Nigeria ahead of their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign.
For the Super Eagles, Ajayi’s goal is another encouraging development ahead of Nigeria’s upcoming AFCON 2027 qualifiers.
The 32-year-old remains one of the experienced defensive options available to Eric Chelle, and regular Premier League football is valuable as Nigeria prepare for another demanding period of international football.
More importantly, his goal demonstrates that Ajayi can contribute at both ends of the pitch. Hull will hope the strike is the first of many goals as they attempt to establish themselves back in the Premier League.
The biggest piece of history may have been sitting even further back. Hull City had not beaten Manchester United in a league match since November 23, 1974.
That was 52 years ago. On that occasion, Hull defeated United 2-0 in the old Second Division, with Malcolm Lord and club legend Ken Wagstaff scoring the goals.
More than five decades later, history repeated itself; only the names were different.
In 1974, Lord and Wagstaff delivered the victory, and in 2026, Ajayi and Mendy did it.
The symmetry makes the result even more remarkable. It was not only Hull’s first Premier League victory against United. It was their first league victory over the Red Devils in 52 years.
