Bukayo Saka visits orphanage in Lagos

Bukayo Saka

Arsenal and England star Bukayo Saka on Thursday visited Bales of Mercy Orphanage in Lagos.

Saka arrived Lagos on Wednesday following the end of the 2022/2023 football season for his club.

The 21-year-old was welcomed in Nigeria by popular sports blogger and Arsenal FC supporter Kelechi Anyikude aka Kelechi AFC.

Kelechi shared a video of Saka’s arrival on Instagram.

“Local man and Bukayo Saka just touched down Lagos, Nigeria. Naija we outside,” he wrote.

Saka was in the Bariga area of Lagos on Thursday. 

As expected, his presence in Lagos is generating wild reactions from across the world, including from ex-Arsenal midfielder Alex Iwobi.

In the video posted on his Instagram page, Saka is seen in all-white attire and closely guarded by fierce-looking bouncers.

Saka wrote this caption on the video: “Ẹ kúulé o (Yoruba greeting from a visitor to those he meets at home)! Thank you for the warm welcome.”

Iwobi is among thousands of Instagram users that commented on Saka’s short video.

The Everton star simply wrote: “Na So!”

Other fans commended Saka for not forgetting his roots even though he is well-established with Arsenal and the English national team.

There are suggestions Saka will pay Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu a courtesy visit.

Saka was born in Ealing, Greater London to Yoruba parents, Adenike and Yomi Saka, and was the younger of two children. His parents emigrated to London from Nigeria as economic migrants.

The youngster, who recently signed a contract extension tying him to the London club until 2027, says he is a committed Christian and that he reads the Bible every night.

Saka and Arsenal came very close to winning the 2022/2023 English Premier League title but fell short, allowing Manchester City to take it away.