Lateef Omidiji

Lateef Omotola Omidiji Jr. (born 14 September 2003) is a footballer who plays college soccer for the UNLV Rebels, as a forward.[3] Born in the United States, he has represented both the US and Nigeria at youth international level.

Lateef Omidiji
Personal information
Full name Lateef Omotola Omidiji Jr.
Date of birth (2003-09-14) 14 September 2003[1]
Place of birth Las Vegas, United States
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
FC Dordrecht
2017–2018 Feyenoord
2018–2020 Go Ahead Eagles
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021– UNLV Rebels 16 (1)
International career‡
United States U14
United States U15
United States U16
2018–2018 Nigeria U15
2019– Nigeria U17
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14:45, 29 August 2021 (UTC)

Early and personal life

Omidiji was born in Las Vegas to a Nigerian father (who is Muslim) and an American mother.[4][5] His sister is Sophia Omotola Omidiji.[5][6] In June 2017 he described himself as a "straight A student" who had received an award from President Obama for his grades.[6]

Club career

Omidiji began his career at the age of 5 with the Rainbow Youth Soccer League in Las Vegas.[6] At the age of 10 he was described as a "soccer prodigy".[7]

He moved from FC Dordrecht to Feyenoord in 2017.[8] He later moved to Go Ahead Eagles.[9][10]

In November 2020 it was announced that Omidiji had returned to the United States to attend high school in Las Vegas, and had signed a letter of intent with the UNLV Rebels.[2][11] he scored 1 goal in 16 games in the 2021 season.[12]

International career

Omidiji is eligible to represent the United States and Nigeria.[13]

After representing the United States at under-14, under-15 and under-16 levels, he began playing for Nigeria under-15s in May 2018.[14] He is also eligible to represent the Netherlands.[6] In 2019 he was dropped by the Nigeria under-17s.[15]

References
  1. "Meet 15-yr old wonder kid who turned down America to play for Nigeria". Pulse Nigeria. 21 August 2018.
  2. "Las Vegas Native, International Standout Lateef Omidiji Jr Signs With Rebels". University of Nevada Las Vegas Athletics. 11 November 2020.
  3. "Lateef Omidiji Jr hangs out with Neymar, Eden Hazard and Alexis Sanchez | Goal.com". www.goal.com.
  4. "Lateef Omidiji, who once played soccer in his home country of Nigeria, speaks about his son, 10-year-old Lateef Omidiji Jr., with the Review-Journal before Omidiji Jr.'s soccer practice at Russell …". Las Vegas Review-Journal.
  5. Yusuf Akinlotan (5 September 2017). "Revelation of 14-year-old Nigerian American wonder kid that may lead Golden Eaglets in 2019". iWitness. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  6. Remi Sulola (26 June 2017). "INTERVIEW: Nothing scares me on the football pitch, I'm like a pit bull, says Omidiji Jnr". The Cable. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  7. "Las Vegas soccer prodigy, 10, in scouts' sights". 18 May 2014.
  8. "Feyenoord troeft Engelse topclubs af en trekt Omidiji (13) aan" (in Dutch). FR12. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  9. "Nottingham Forest could miss out on highly-rated striker, here's why – opinion". Vital Nottingham Forest. 7 May 2019.
  10. "Trainingsstage voor jeugdspeler Lateef Omidiji bij Nigeria Onder-17". 16 February 2019.
  11. Mills, Sadë (11 November 2020). "International standout Lateef Omidiji Jr. signs with Rebels men's soccer team". KSNV.
  12. "Lateef Omidiji Jr - Men's Soccer". University of Nevada Las Vegas Athletics.
  13. "Lateef Omidiji Jr.: Meet the 12-year-old prodigy that could spark a bidding war between Nigeria and the US | Goal.com". www.goal.com.
  14. Shina Oludare (25 May 2018). "Feyenoord prodigy Lateef Omidiji Jr. gets Nigeria U15 call-up". Goal.com. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  15. "Go Ahead Eagles' Lateef Omidiji Dropped From Nigeria U17 Roster After Failing To Impress Coaches :: All Nigeria Soccer - The Complete Nigerian Football Portal". www.allnigeriasoccer.com.
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