Victor Igbonefo

Victor Chukwuekezie Igbonefo // ⓘ (born 10 October 1985) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for and captains Liga 1 club Persib Bandung. Born in Nigeria, he represents the Indonesia national team.

Victor Igbonefo
Igbonefo playing for Royal Navy in 2016
Personal information
Full name Victor Chukwuekezie Igbonefo
Date of birth (1985-10-10) 10 October 1985
Place of birth Enugu, Nigeria
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Persib Bandung
Number 32
Youth career
0000 Nigerdock Soccer Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2004 First Bank 18 (0)
2005–2011 Persipura Jayapura 162 (8)
2011–2012 Pelita Jaya 31 (5)
2012 → Chiangrai United (loan) 12 (1)
2013–2016 Arema Cronus 60 (0)
2015 → Osotspa Samut Prakan (loan) 8 (0)
2016 Navy 29 (2)
2017 Nakhon Ratchasima 33 (2)
2018 Persib Bandung 27 (0)
2019 PTT Rayong 27 (0)
2020– Persib Bandung 43 (0)
International career‡
2014 Indonesia Olympic 4 (0)
2013– Indonesia 14 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Indonesia
AFF Championship
Runner-up 2020 Singapore Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 28 July 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16:27, 9 December 2021 (UTC)

Club career

Early career

Igbonefo started his career by joining Nigerdock Soccer Academy in Nigeria. In 2003, He signed his first professional contract for Lagos based club, First Bank.[2] He made 18 league appearances with the club before leaving in 2004.

Persipura Jayapura

In 2005, Igbonefo signed for Indonesian league giant, Persipura Jayapura. On his first season with the club, he won the 2005 Indonesian League, after defeating Persija Jakarta 3–2 in the final.[3] Igbonefo became a key player for Persipura in their campaign to win the league in 2008–09 and 2010–11 respectively, he also formed a solid partnership in the heart of defence with Bio Paulin.[4] On 7 October 2009, Igbonefo helped Persipura to win the 2009 Indonesian Community Shield after defeating Sriwijaya 3–1 at Andi Mattalatta Stadium.

Pelita Jaya

On 12 October 2011, it was announced that Igbonefo has joined Pelita Jaya, two-days after he was naturalized as Indonesian citizen.[5] He only stayed a season, making 31 appearances and scoring 5 goals.

On 6 August 2012, Igbonefo was loaned out to Thai Premier League club Chiangrai United. He was loaned with teammate Greg Nwokolo until October 2012.[6] During his short loan spell, Igbonefo made 12 appearances and scoring a goal.

Arema Cronus

During the 2013 season, Igbonefo helped Arema Cronus finish as league runners-up.[7] On 25 February 2014, Igbonefo scored his first goal for Arema Cronus, in a 1–1 draw against Selangor in the 2014 AFC Cup group stage match tie.[8]

On 28 July 2015, Igbonefo returned to Thailand, by signing a loan deal for Osotspa Samut Prakan, he was given the number 30 shirt. He was signed by the team, to strengthen them in the second half of the 2015 season.[9]

On 2 January 2016, It was announced that Igbonefo has joined Thai League 1 club, Royal Navy.[10] On 20 July 2016, He scored an equaliser in the 90th-minute to help Navy hold BEC Tero Sasana 1-1.[11] In his only season with the club, Igbonefo recorded 29 appearances and scored 2 goals, with his team finishing 14th in the league.

International career

The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) announced that Igbonefo has been officially naturalised on 10 October 2011. He made his debut for the Indonesia national football team in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification campaign against Saudi Arabia on 23 March 2013.[12]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 28 July 2023[13]
Club Season League Cup[lower-alpha 1] Continental[lower-alpha 2] Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Pelita Jaya 2011–12 Indonesia Super League 31500–00315
Chiangrai United (loan) 2012 Thai Premier League 12100–00121
Arema 2013 Indonesia Super League 32000–00320
2014 Indonesia Super League 260007100331
2015 Indonesia Super League 2000–0020
Total 600007100671
Samut Prakan (loan) 2015 Thai Premier League 8000–0080
Navy 2016 Thai League 1 29200–00292
Nakhon Ratchasima 2017 Thai League 1 33220–00352
Persib Bandung 2018 Liga 1 27000–2[lower-alpha 3]0290
PTT Rayong 2019 Thai League 1 27010–00280
Persib Bandung 2020 Liga 1 3000–0030
2021–22 Liga 1 19000–8[lower-alpha 4]1271
2022–23 Liga 1 15000–21171
2023–24 Liga 1 2000–0020
Career total 26610307111228813
  1. Includes Thai FA Cup
  2. Appearances in AFC Cup
  3. Appearances in Indonesia President's Cup
  4. Appearances in Menpora Cup

International
As of match played 9 December 2021
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Indonesia 201360
201420
201520
202140
Total140

Honours

Persipura Jayapura

Arema Cronus

Indonesia

Individual

References
  1. "Victor Igbonefo: Profile". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  2. "Kisah Victor Igbonefo: Gagal ke Eropa, Bersinar di Indonesia". kumparanBOLA (in Indonesian). 5 May 2020.
  3. "Indonesia 2005". RSSSF. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  4. "Profil Victor Igbonefo - Bola.net" (in Indonesian).
  5. "Greg dan Igbonefo Gabung Pelita Jaya". VIVA.co.id. 12 October 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  6. "Pelita Pinjamkan Greg dan Igbonefo ke Klub Thailand". Kompas.com. 6 August 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  7. "Kilas Balik Arema FC 2013: Los Galacticos Milik Bakrie Cronus yang Gagal Juara". skor.id (in Indonesian). 8 September 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  8. "Hasil Piala AFC Selangor Vs Arema, Skor Akhir 1-1". Bisnis.com (in Indonesian). 25 February 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  9. "Resmi Diperkenalkan Osotspa, Victor Igbonefo Pakai No 30". SINDONEWS (in Indonesian). 28 July 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  10. "Tak Kembali ke Arema, Victor Igbonefo Gabung Royal Navy". Bola.com (in Indonesian). 3 January 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  11. "Victor Igbonefo Cetak Gol Perdana dan Masuk Best XI Liga Thailand". Bola.com (in Indonesian). 21 July 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  12. "Indonesia Takluk 1-2 dari Arab Saudi". Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  13. "Indonesia - V. Igbonefo - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  14. "Persipura Balas Sriwijaya di Community Shield" (in Indonesian).
  15. "Jadwal Persib vs Arema Final Inter Island Cup Digelar 1 Februari 2015 di Palembang". rancahpost.co.id (in Indonesian). Liga Indonesia. 23 January 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  16. "Piala AFF 2020 Indonesia vs Thailand: Statistik Pertandingan Tunjukkan Kelemahan Garuda | liputan6.com". www.liputan6.com (in Indonesian). 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  17. "Persija Mendominasi Semua Lini, Ini Best XI Resmi Piala Menpora 2021". bolalob.com.
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