Obinna Nwaneri

Obinna Nwaneri // ⓘ (born 19 March 1982)[1] is a retired Nigerian footballer who plays as centre back or right back position but can also play as a forward.[2][3][4]

Obinna Nwaneri
Personal information
Date of birth (1982-03-19) 19 March 1982
Place of birth Lagos, Nigeria
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Centre back, Right back
Youth career
Julius Berger
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2002 Julius Berger 6 (1)
2003–2004 Enyimba
2004–2007 Espérance 43 (3)
2007–2010 FC Sion 71 (2)
2010–2011 Kazma
2012–2014 Kelantan 50 (2)
2015 ATM
2016 Perlis
International career‡
2005–2010 Nigeria 34 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 January 2016
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 January 2016

His name, Obinna, means "Father's heart" in Igbo.[5] He is described as mobile central defender with pace, control and timing. A natural leader, which had earned him the captain armband in Enyimba and FC Sion respectively.

His star has steadily continued to rise, first with top Nigerian side, Julius Berger, then with African Champions Enyimba, where he won the CAF champions league and then signed with Swiss club FC Sion during the 2007 January transfer window, a club he later captained before leaving the following summer.

Career breakdown
  • 2000: Broke into a talented Julius Berger side that had an amazing turnaround season, going from barely escaping relegation the season before, to annexing the Nigerian Pepsi League crown.
  • 2001: Had a standout season with the 'Bridge Boys', proving to be one of the League's best defenders. Berger, unfortunately, failed to retain their League title and were knocked out of the African Champions Cup.
  • 2002: Won the Nigerian Cup with Julius Berger, after defeating Yobe Stars 3–0 in the final.
  • 2003: Moved to League Champions Enyimba, forming a dream partnership at the back with Romanus Orjinta. Had a standout season in an historic season for Enyimba, as they won the Nigerian League for the 3rd year running and became the first Nigerian club to win the continents' most prized club trophy – The African Champions Cup.
  • 2004: Captained Enyimba as they successfully defended their African Champions League crown, by defeating Étoile du Sahel of Tunisia with a 5–3 penalty victory. Scored the vital fifth penalty that secured the win. However, this time around, Enyimba would not win Nigerian League. Agreed personal terms with South African side Orlando Pirates in July, but the deal fell through as the clubs could not agree on a fee.
  • 2004–05: Moved to Tunisian powerhouse Espérance, in early 2005, where he has had an outstanding season.
  • 2005–06: Selected for the Nigerian national football team for the 2006 African Cup of Nations tournament.
  • 2006–07: Signed for Swiss Super League team FC Sion until June 2010.A team he captained until he left the following summer.
  • 2008: Obinna score his first ever goal for Nigeria national football team at 45 minutes during 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF second round against South Africa national football team.
  • 2010: After a proposed loan spell in the United Arab Emirati football club Al Dhafra did not fell through Obinna Joined Kuwaiti club Kazma.
  • 2011: Kazma Obinna finished his contract with Kazma and has since been linked with a host of European clubs.
  • 2012: After being a free agent for 3 months, Obinna joined the 2010 Malaysia Super League champions, Kelantan FA.[2][4][6] Obinna later won treble by winning Malaysian Super League, FA Cup and Malaysian Cup with Kelantan FA in his debut season.
  • 2014: On 23 April, he was released by Kelantan FA
  • 2015: After less than a year out the game he signs with ATM
  • 2016: Signs with Perlis FA in Malaysian Premier League

Statistics

Club
As of 5 November 2013
Club Season League Other[lower-alpha 1] Cup League Cup Continental[lower-alpha 2] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Kelantan 2012 181105111160403
2013 190106310251416
2014 1300000000000
Total 50120114213111819
Career total ---
  1. Including Malaysia Charity Shield
  2. Including AFC Cup

Honours

Enyimba

FC Sion

Kazema SC

Kelantan

References
  1. Date of Birth: 19 March 1982, passport: (D) A0892856
  2. "Kelantan Ikat Obinna Sebagai Pemain Terbaharu" (in Malay). Bernama. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  3. "OBINNA IMPORT TERBARU KELANTAN". Archived from the original on 2 February 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  4. "Obinna, Okucha Main Liga Super" (in Malay). 2 February 2012. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  5. Meaning of Obinna in Nigerian.name Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  6. "Kelantan Ikat Obinna Sebagai Pemain Terbaharu" (in Malay). Bernama. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
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