Samuel Kalu
Samuel Kalu (born 26 August 1997) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as winger for French club Girondins Bordeaux and Nigeria.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Samuel Kalu Ojim | ||
Date of birth | 26 August 1997 | ||
Place of birth | Aba, Nigeria | ||
Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
Playing position(s) | Winger | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Girondins Bordeaux | ||
Number | 10 | ||
Youth career | |||
GBS Academy | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2016 | AS Trenčín | 32 | (4) |
2017–2018 | Gent | 48 | (10) |
2018– | Girondins Bordeaux | 35 | (4) |
National team‡ | |||
2018– | Nigeria | 13 | (2) |
Honours
| |||
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 09:54, 4 December 2019 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 13 November 2019 |
Club career
Samuel Kalu started his football career at GBS Academy in Jos, Nigeria. In 2015, he signed with AS Trenčín, a partner club with GBS Academy at the time. After his impressive displays in the Slovak League with Trenčín, he joined KAA Gent in 2017. His spell in Belgium was successful and in the summer of 2018 he signed for French top division club Bordeaux. He was handed the number 10 jersey on arrival.
AS Trenčín
On 9 December 2015, Kalu signed a two-year contract with the Slovak side AS Trenčín.[1] He made his professional debut for Trenčín against Slovan Bratislava on 27 February 2016.[2]
Gent
On 4 January 2017, he was transferred to Belgium top division club KAA Gent. [3]
International career
On 13 October 2018, he scored his first international goal with the Nigeria senior national team against Libya. He scored the final goal in a 4–0 victory. Kalu collapsed during the Nigerian team training session during the AFCON 2019 held in Egypt. Though rumours had it that he suffered a heart attack but this was later debunked as he collapsed as a result of severe dehydration. He was later released from the hospital to link up with the rest of the squad in Alexandria.
Personal life
Kalu's mother was released on 5 March 2019, having been kidnapped six days previously.[5]
Career statistics
International
- As of matches played on 13 November 2019[6]
Nigeria national team | ||
---|---|---|
Year | Apps | Goals |
2018 | 6 | 1 |
2019 | 7 | 1 |
Total | 13 | 2 |
International goals
- Scores and results list Nigeria's goal tally first.[6]
No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 13 October 2018 | Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, Nigeria | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | |
2. | 13 November 2019 | Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Nigeria | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
References
- KALU A UDEH PODPÍSALI DVOJROČNÉ KONTRAKTY 09.12.2015, astrencin.sk
- Futbalnet / Únia ligových klubov / Fortuna liga / AS Trenčín - ŠK Slovan Bratislava futbal 27.02.2016, futbalnet.sk
- "Samuel Kalu signs three and a half year deal with Gent". Goal. 4 January 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
- "Samuel Kalu is Girondin!" (in French). 6 August 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
- Okeleji, Oluwashina (5 March 2019). "Nigeria winger Kalu's mother released by kidnappers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
- Samuel Kalu at National-Football-Teams.com
External links
- Profile at worldfootball.net
- Samuel Kalu at Soccerway
- Futbalnet Profile
- AS Trenčín official club profile