Porto’s promising young forward, formerly known as Samu Omorodion, has officially changed his name to Samu Aghehowa. The 20-year-old has chosen to use his mother’s surname as a tribute to her support during challenging times.
The change is now visible on his Porto jersey, where he is identified as “Samu A.” Previously, while playing for Alaves, he was simply known as “Samu.”
In his interviews since arriving in Portugal, and his latest comments given to Porto’s Revista Dragões magazine, provide further insight into his personality.
“Everything that my mother did for me has no price, and I want to pay homage to her by using her surname. I want to be known through her surname,” said Samu, whose Porto shirt now bears the name “SAMU. A” on its back.
“People know me by my other name [Omorodion, his father’s surname], but I want to be known as Aghehowa.”
In another interview, he said: “She suffered a lot, all the way from her country to Spain so that my sister and I could have a much better life. A lot of suffering, many hours that I get emotional remembering. Everything I do is for her, to make her proud of me. She is the most important woman in my life, she has helped me at all times. She plays a fundamental role, she is the pillar of my life, without her I don’t know what I would do,” said Samu after living his first moments in the Spanish national team.
Edith, while pregnant with Samu, decided to leave Nigeria and travelled from the Gulf of Guinea to Melilla. Years later, she is proud of the steps her son has taken in football until he was called up by the Spanish senior national team.
“Before I called her to tell her, they had already told her. She started crying. I am also very happy for her and very proud of everything I’m doing and to be able to give it to her,” added Samu.
Since joining Porto from Atletico Madrid, Aghehowa has been a revelation, scoring an impressive 12 goals in just 13 matches.
