Michael Uchebo

Michael Okechukwu Uchebo (born 2 February 1990) is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a forward. He has played for his country, Nigeria, at international level.

Michael Uchebo
Personal information
Full name Michael Okechukwu Uchebo
Date of birth (1990-02-03) 3 February 1990
Place of birth Enugu, Nigeria
Height 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)[1]
Playing position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2009 Enugu Rangers
2010–2012 VVV-Venlo 58 (8)
2012–2014 Cercle Brugge 55 (7)
2016–2017[2] Boavista 41 (4)
2018–2019 Enugu Rangers
National team‡
2008–2009 Nigeria U-20 5 (3)
2014– Nigeria 5 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20 July 2016
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20 July 2016

Career

Uchebo began his career in Enugu Rangers.[3] He signed a three-year contract with VVV Venlo in October 2009.[4] Venlo's football director Mario Captien described him as a physically very strong striker who is a target man at the front.[5][6] [7] Dutch Voetbal International referred to Uchebo as the new Nwankwo Kanu.[8]

In November 2011, Venlo's chairman Hai Berden revealed that the club was in talks with English side Stoke City regarding the transfer of Uchebo.[9] In January 2012 Uchebo joined Stoke City on trial.[10][11] However, at the end of the trial, the club decided not to sign him.[12] On 25 January, Uchebo joined Rangers on a trial. His trial at the club ended after just one day, with conflicting reports from the player and Rangers. The agent of Uchebo claimed that player cut short his trial due to a poor impression of Rangers after Ally McCoist did not attend the single training session in question, while McCoist said that it was a club decision.[13][14][15]

After saving Venlo from relegation with a late goal in extra time of the Eredivisie relegation playoffs second round match against SC Cambuur, Uchebo revealed that he won't renew his expiring contract at VVV.[16][17] On 29 May Venlo announced that they had reached an agreement with Cercle Brugge. Uchebo subsequently signed a two-year deal with Cercle Brugge.[18]

On 11 October 2014, Uchebo signed for Boavista on a three-year contact. He scored his first goal on his first match, against Paços de Ferreira, in a 2–1 home loss.[19]

International career

Uchebo was a member of the Nigeria U-20 team and in August 2008 he scored his first goal for Nigeria in a match against Togo in the West African Football Union tournament.[3] He also played at the U-20 2009 African Youth Championship tournament, scoring one goal in three matches.[20][21] He was described in the media as the most sought-after player among the Nigeria squad in the tournament.[22]

In June 2011 Uchebo was called up by current Olympic team and National U-23 coach Austin Eguavoen for the crucial return leg of the Olympic qualifiers against Tanzania. [23]

In October 2011 U-23 coach Austin Eguavoen visited the Netherlands and met with officials of VVV Venlo to secure the release of Uchebo to participate the inaugural edition of the CAF U-23 championship in Morocco. [24]

He received his first call-up to the Nigeria national team in February 2014.[25]

Uchebo earned his first senior cap on 6 March, in the 0–0 draw with Mexico in a friendly match, playing the first half before being replaced by Leon Balogun.[26]

In the next of Nigeria's matches, a 2–2 draw with Scotland at Craven Cottage, Uchebo played 55 minutes of the match. After Scotland had taken the lead, Uchebo equalised before the break with a mid-range deflected effort. His replacement was Peter Odemwingie.

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References
  1. "Michael Uchebo". vvv-venlo.nl. Archived from the original on 20 September 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  2. Boavista rescinde com Michael Uchebo‚ ojogo.pt, 11 January 2017
  3. Nigeria Beat Togo 2–0
  4. "Cookies op VI.nl". www.vi.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  5. "Spotlight: Michael Uchebo, the cult hero of VVV" 23 February 2010
  6. "Uchebo: The black Johan Cruyff"
  7. VVV-Venlo – Borussia Mönchengladbach 1 (uchebo) – 2
  8. Voetbal International Who's hot Who's not
  9. "Uchebo set for Stoke talks" Sky Sports, 6 November 2011
  10. "Stoke take Nigerian striker Michael Uchebo on trial". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  11. "Pulis casts eye over Nigerian striker Uchebo". The Sentinel. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  12. "Stoke City end interest in trialist Michael Uchebo". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  13. "Michael Uchebo ends Rangers trial after one day" Archived 31 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine STV.tv
  14. "Watching Brief". rangers.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 January 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  15. "Ally McCoist dismisses stories he could walk away from Rangers" The Guardian 27 January 2012
  16. "VVV Venlo and Uchebo part" Tuesday, 29 May 2012
  17. voetbalcentraal.nl Tuesday, 29 May 2012
  18. "Uchebo joins Cercle" Archived 6 March 2018 at the Wayback Machine VVV Official website Tuesday, 29 May 2012
  19. "Nigeria striker Michael Uchebo joins Boavista". BBC Sport. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  20. "SA go top as Egypt win in Kigali". 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  22. ""Scouts Jostle For Uchebo"". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  23. "Eguavoen calls Ahmed, Uchebo for Tanzania Thursday" People's Daily, 9 June 2011
  24. "Nigeria: London 2012 - Eguavoen in Italy for Joel". This Day (Lagos). 27 October 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  25. Oluwashina Okeleji (10 February 2014). "Uncapped trio called up by Nigeria". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  26. "Mexico vs. Nigeria 0:0". flashscore.com. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
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