Floyd Samba's debut double propels Man City towards Carabao Cup glory
Seventeen‑year‑old Floyd Samba stole the show as Manchester City eased into the Carabao Cup fourth round with a 5‑0 victory over Norwich at the Etihad Stadium on 17 September 2026. The teenager netted two debut goals and helped create two further strikes in a dominant display.
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Samba's debut double
The 17‑year‑old, son of former Blackburn defender Christopher, opened the scoring when Nico O’Reilly’s right‑wing cross was flicked on by Rico Lewis and Samba headed it past Norwich goalkeeper Daniel Grimshaw. He added a second before half‑time, curling a fine fourth goal after a quick exchange with Ayyoub Bouaddi, who had been signed for £86 million (€100.2 million). Samba also set up Rayan Cherki’s strike, linking play with the £34 million (€39.61 million) winger Allan Elias.
City’s squad overhaul
Enzo Maresca fielded ten changes from the side that beat Manchester United at Old Trafford, leaving star striker Erling Haaland out of the matchday squad. New signing Allan Elias marked his debut by scoring, while fellow academy graduate Ryan McAidoo added the fifth goal in the final minute. Norwich, who made nine alterations, struggled to compete and could not threaten the hosts for most of the game. Man City’s depth was evident as the rotated side still produced five goals.
Implications for the cup run
The comfortable win secures City’s place in the quarter‑finals, where they will host Brighton – the team that eliminated Manchester United earlier in the competition. Maresca’s rotation policy suggests he will continue to give young talents game time while maintaining a strong push for the trophy.