Juwon Oshaniwa

Juwon Oshaniwa (born 14 September 1990) is a Nigerian international footballer who plays for Akwa United as a left back. He has previously played for Kwara United, Lobi Stars, Sharks in Nigeria, Ashdod in Israel and Heart of Midlothian in Scotland. Oshaniwa is a full international for Nigeria and played in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Juwon Oshaniwa
Personal information
Date of birth (1990-09-14) 14 September 1990
Place of birth Ilorin, Nigeria
Playing position(s) Left back
Club information
Current team
 Akwa United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2008 Kwara United
2008–2009 Lobi Stars
2009–2012 Sharks
2012–2015 Ashdod 47 (1)
2015–2017 Heart of Midlothian 24 (0)
2018– Akwa United
National team‡
2012– Nigeria 17 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14 May 2016 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16 June 2014

Club career

Ashdod

Oshaniwa played club football in Nigeria for Kwara United, Lobi Stars and Sharks.[1] After five years at Nigeria, Oshaniwa announced his intention to play in Europe.

In September 2012 he signed a four-year deal with Israeli club F.C. Ashdod.[2] Oshaniwa made his Ashdod debut on 13 September 2012, where he made his first start, in a 2–1 win over Beitar Jerusalem.[3] Just four months after signing for the club, Oshaniwa was linked with a move to Scottish Premiership side Celtic.[4] Unfortunately, Oshaniwa suffered a virus that kept him out for months[5] and made his return to the first team on 3 March 2013, in a 1–1 draw against Hapoel Tel Aviv.[6] In his first season at Ashdod, Oshawniwa made sixteen appearance for the club.

His second season at Ashdod saw him continued to be in the first team regular, as he made twenty-four appearance. His playing time was restricted to six games after injuries[7] However, the club were later relegated from the Israeli top flight after finishing last of the Bottom Playoff. In January 2015 he was linked with a transfer to Scottish Premiership side Celtic for the second time.[8] But the move had never materialised. The 2014–15 season saw Oshaniwa had his playing time restricted following his first team opportunities being limited with eleven appearance.[9] During the season, Oshaniwa scored his first Ashdod goal on 17 January 2015, in a 2–1 win over Hapoel Petah Tikva.[10]

Following the 2014–15 season, it was announced that Oshaniwa left the club to make his move to Scotland.[11]

Heart of Midlothian

In June, Oshaniwa was linked with a move to Scottish club Heart of Midlothian ("Hearts") and stated he keen to move to United Kingdom to continue his football development.[12] Weeks later, Hearts made a move for Oshaniwa and was on verge of signing him.[13] However, the negotiations to complete the move was delayed over Visa requirement, which he eventually was granted on 28 July 2015.[14][15] His move to Hearts was completed, subject to international clearance, on 1 August.[16] Upon joining the club, Oshaniwa expressed delight to join the club.[17]

Following the move, Oshaniwa was not playing in the opening game of the season against St Johnstone and was at the dugout watching, as he was amazed with the football, the entertainment and the fans.[18] Oshaniwa made his Hearts debut on 8 August 2015, playing as a left-back, in a 2–1 win against Dundee.[19] In the 2016–17 season, Oshaniwa did not make any first-team appearances.[20] He was released by Hearts in June 2017, a year before his contract had been due to expire.[21]

In 2018 he signed for Akwa United.[22]

International career

Oshawniwa was called up by Nigeria on 30 March 2012[23] and made his international debut for Nigeria in 2012,[1] Since being called up by the national team, Oshawina has appeared in FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.[24]

He was called up to Nigeria's 23-man squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.[25] After appearing as an un-used substitute in Nigeria's African Cup of Nations, Oshaniwa played in the final, where he came on as a substitute for Elderson Echiéjilé in the 66th minutes, in a 1–0 win over Burkina Faso to win African Cup of Nations for the third time.[26] He said that winning the tournament was the highlight of his career.[22]

The following year, Oshaniwa was named in the provisional squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[27] Oshaniwa continued to be in the squad for the World Cup following the cuts to the 23-man squad,[28] where he played in all four of Nigeria's matches at the World Cup.[16]

Playing style

The Cable has described Oshaniwa's playing style as "strength, tough tackles, good marking in one-on-one situation."[29]

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References
  1. "Juwon Oshaniwa". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman.
  2. "ג'ואון אושאניווה חתם במ.ס אשדוד ל-4 שנים" (in Hebrew). Mako.il. 12 September 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  3. "Juwon Oshaniwa debuts for MS Ashdod in Israel". Goal.com. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  4. "אושאניווה: נציגים של סלטיק אמרו לי שרוצים שאחתום שם" (in Hebrew). Mako.l. 3 January 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  5. "אשדוד: ג'וואן אושאניווה שב ל-11, יפתח מול הפועל ת"א" (in Hebrew). Mako.il. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  6. "קודה למחשבה: 1:1 להפועל עם אשדוד" (in Hebrew). Mako.il. 3 March 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  7. "לא רק אנגליה: כל מה שצריך לדעת לקראת השבת הקרובה" (in Hebrew). Mako.il. 27 December 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  8. "Nigeria defender keen on Celtic move". BBC Sport. BBC. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  9. "Juwon Oshaniwa Linked With Move To Konyaspor". All Nigeria Soccer. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  10. "ליגת העל: 1:2 דרמטי למ.ס אשדוד על הפועל פתח תקוה" (in Hebrew). Sports Walla. 17 January 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  11. "אופיר מרציאנו סיכם לעונה אחת במוסקרון" (in Hebrew). ONE. 6 July 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  12. "Nigeria defender Juwon Oshaniwa says three UK clubs keen to sign him". Sky Sports. 4 June 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  13. "Hearts close to signing defender Juwon Oshaniwa". The Scotsman. 1 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  14. "Juwon Oshaniwa waits on visa to seal Hearts move". Edinburgh Evening News. 16 July 205. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  15. "Juwon Oshaniwa granted visa for Hearts move". Edinburgh Evening News. 28 July 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  16. "Hearts: Nigeria's Juwon Oshaniwa completes Tynecastle switch". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 August 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  17. "Hearts move delights Juwon Oshaniwa". Goal.com. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  18. "Juwon Oshaniwa on Messi, Celtic and Hearts' style". Edinburgh Evening News. 4 August 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  19. "Dundee 1 - 2 Heart of Midlothian". BBC Sport. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  20. "Oshaniwa desperate to break into Hearts first team". BBC Sport. 1 April 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  21. "Juwon Oshaniwa exits Hearts by mutual consent a year before contract ends". BBC Sport. BBC. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  22. "Winning 2013 AFCON highlight of my career – Oshaniwa".
  23. "Nigeria call on youngster Babadidi". FIFA.com. 30 March 2012. Archived from the original on 13 August 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  24. Juwon Oshaniwa – FIFA competition record
  25. Oluwashina Okeleji (10 January 2013). "Nations Cup 2013: Nigeria pick six locally-based players". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  26. "Nigeria – Burkina Faso, Match reactions". Orange Africa Cup of Nations. 14 February 2013. Archived from the original on 14 February 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  27. "World Cup 2014: Peter Odemwingie in provisional Nigeria squad". BBC Sport. BBC. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  28. "Mba misses out, Yobo in for Nigeria". FIFA. 3 June 2014. Archived from the original on 5 June 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  29. "Uninspiring friendlies, Echiejile's injury, and the World Cup". The Cable. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
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