Hull City have firmly caught the eye during an encouraging start to their Premier League campaign, sitting proudly in eighth place on the table with 9 points from their opening six matches. The Tigers’ momentum was further underlined over the weekend following a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Everton at the MKM Stadium.
At the heart of this defensive stability is Nigerian international centre-back Semi Ajayi, who has seamlessly adjusted to top-flight life and even made his mark on the scoresheet.
In an exclusive interview with Footy-Africa, the Super Eagles star opened up about Hull’s promising form, the thrill of scoring against Manchester United, and how the squad is blocking out outside noise as they prepare for this weekend’s clash against Fulham.
Strong foundation, but no complacency
Reflecting on Hull City’s bright opening to the season, Ajayi expressed satisfaction with the team’s application while keeping their feet firmly on the ground.
“It’s been a good start. We’re happy with the work we’ve done so far,” Ajayi told Footy-Africa.
“We know we haven’t done anything yet. There’s still a long way to go in the season, but we put ourselves in a really good position to have a positive season, so we’re really happy.”
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Highs of Manchester United and Chelsea battles
One of the standout chapters of the campaign so far has been Ajayi’s decisive impact against heavyweight opposition, including finding the back of the net against Manchester United and helping secure a crucial result against Chelsea.
For the Nigerian defender, scoring against the Red Devils was a special milestone, though team success remained paramount.
“It was a blessing to score the first goal back in the Premier League, also against a massive team like Manchester United—something I don’t take lightly,” Ajayi shared.
“It was more important for me really that we got the three points and the win, which we did. So yeah, I was pleased.”
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Forging their own path
When asked about comparisons to Sunderland’s remarkable run last season, Ajayi was quick to shift the narrative inward, emphasizing that Hull City are focused entirely on carving out their own unique identity.
“We’re not really focused on Sunderland. We’re focused on ourselves,” Ajayi asserted.
“We have to do our own thing. We have to be Hull City. Sunderland had an amazing season last season, but it’s down to us to create our own history.”
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Looking ahead to Fulham this weekend
Following their dramatic 2-2 stalemate with Everton, attention now turns to this weekend’s fixture against Fulham. Ajayi acknowledges that every match in the English top flight presents a distinct challenge, but the objective remains clear: picking up maximum points.
“It’s just another game that we need to win, and we want to pick up points,” Ajayi said.
“Every single game is going to be tough this year. We know that every team plays differently, so we’ll approach that game with a new game plan and try to get as many points as we can.”
As Hull City look to sustain their upward trajectory in eighth place, Ajayi’s leadership and defensive presence will undoubtedly be central to the Tigers’ ambitions.
