Samba scores twice on debut as City beat Norwich 5-0

Seventeen-year-old Floyd Samba scored twice on his senior debut to lead Manchester City to a 5-0 victory over Norwich City in the Carabao Cup third round on September 17, 2026. The win secured a fourth-round tie against Brighton and Hove Albion for the defending champions. Manager Enzo Maresca made 10 changes to his starting lineup from the previous match against Manchester United, handing debuts to several young players. Samba, the son of former Premier League defender Christopher Samba, opened the scoring in the 29th minute with a header from a cross by fellow debutant Allan Elias. Rayan Cherki doubled the lead three minutes later after a pass from Ayyoub Bouaddi. Allan Elias, a Brazilian winger signed from Palmeiras, scored on his first appearance early in the second half. Samba then secured his brace by curling a shot into the far corner. Ryan McAidoo added a fifth goal late in the match. "To get a debut like that is mindblowing. I couldn't believe it myself but that is just the beginning, I've got a big career ahead of me," Samba told BBC Radio 5 Live. He noted the significant jump from under-21 football to first-team training.