Denis Nya

Denis Nya (born 1 December 1996 in Calabar, Nigeria) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a central defender for NPFL club, Akwa United.[1][2]

Denis Nya
Personal information
Full name Denis Nya
Date of birth (1996-12-01) 1 December 1996
Place of birth Calabar, Nigeria
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position(s) Centre-back
Club information
Current team
 Akwa United
Number 6
Youth career
2011–2013 Canaan United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2015 Ekiti United ? (1)
2015–2017 Lobi Stars ? (1)
2017–2018 Akwa United 22 (3)
2018–2019 Akwa United 19 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 8 May 2019
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 8 May 2019

Personal life

Nya is an indigene of Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Club career

Nya began his football career in 2011 with calabar-based academy and Nigeria nationwide league club, Canaan United, coached by former Super Eagles midfielder, John Okon Ene.[3] While at Canaan United, he represented Cross River State in the men's football event at the Lagos 2012 National Sports Festival and won a silver medal. He joined Ekiti United, a Nigeria National League team during the 2013–14 Nigeria National League season to continue his development. He extended his stay with the Ekiti United F.C. until the end of 2014–15 season.

At the start of the 2015–16 season, Nya signed for Nigerian topflight side Lobi Stars. In his first season with the Makurdi-based club, he scored in the final of the 2016 Benue State FA Cup against Dreams FC. The following season, he netted his first professional goal from the spot to help Lobi Stars from a goal down to beat Akwa United 2-1, in a match-day 16 tie at the Aper Aku Stadium.[4]

In November 2017, Nya finalized his move from Lobi Stars to Akwa United and was unveiled by the club management alongside 15 new players at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Saturday, 6 January 2018.[5]

Nya scored in his debut for Akwa United on the opening day of the 2017–18 NPFL season against Enugu Rangers in Uyo, to ensure the Promise Keepers recorded a 2-0 win over Enugu Rangers – their first victory over the Flying Antelopes in three seasons. He scored the second goal of the match twenty minutes into the second half.[6] Nya scored his second league goal of the season at the Confluence Stadium in Lokoja, as Akwa United got a 2-1 win against Niger Tornadoes.[7][8] Nya scored his third league goal of the 2017–18 Nigeria Professional Football League season for Akwa United in the 2-1 home win over Enyimba in a rescheduled match at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.[9][10]

During Akwa United's 2018 CAF Confederation Cup campaign, Nya played all six games and scored a goal for the 2015 and 2017 Aiteo Cup winner, before they were eliminated by Al-Hilal Club of Sudan in the Round of 32.[11]

On Wednesday, 29 May 2019, Nya won Dana Air Akwa United Player for the month of April, following his outstanding performances for the Promise Keepers in the 2018–19 NPFL home wins against Gombe United and Kano Pillars and a 3-0 loss at Plateau United. [12]

International career

Nya scaled through the open screening held by Coach Manu Garba for under-17 players at the U. J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar, after the Morocco 2013 CAF Under-17 Championship in July 2013. He starred for the Under-17 team in the 1-0 win over Akwa United reserve team in a World Cup preparatory game at the Uyo Township Stadium on Wednesday, 28 August 2013.[13]

On 3 October 2013, he was named in Golden Eaglets' final 21-man squad for the UAE 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup, but did not feature in any match, as the team went ahead to claim their fourth title.[14][15]

Career statistics

Club

Professional Goals

As of 24 April 2019
NoDateVenueTeamOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.30 March 2017Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi, NigeriaLobi StarsAkwa United1–12–12016–17 NPFL Matchday 16
2.14 January 2018Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, NigeriaAkwa UnitedEnugu Rangers2–02–02017–18 NPFL Matchday 1
3.25 January 2018Confluence Stadium, Lokoja, NigeriaAkwa UnitedNiger Tornadoes1–02–12017–18 NPFL Matchday 4
4.18 April 2018Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, NigeriaAkwa UnitedAl-Hilal Club1–13–12018 CAF Confederation Cup, Round of 32
5.30 May 2018Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, NigeriaAkwa UnitedEnyimba1–02–12017–18 NPFL Matchday 20

Honours

International
Champion Nigeria U-17

National
  • National Sports Festival
    • Lagos 2012 National Sports Festival men's football event
Runners-up Cross River State

Individual
Winner April 2019

References
  1. Published. "NPFL: Final games crucial, says Akwa's Nya". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
  2. "Dennis Nya not surprised by Akwa United league resurgence | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
  3. "Rovers and Canaan United meet in Cross River Federation Cup Final". Theeagleonline.com. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
  4. "Lobi Stars complete comeback to edge Akwa United". Dailysportsng.com. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  5. "Akwa United present new signings". 234football.com. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  6. "Kester, Nya and Ayagwa in dream debut for clubs". Dailytrust.com. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  7. Usenekong, Gold (2018-01-24). "NPFL: Champions Plateau Go Top, Akwa Stun Tornadoes; MFM, Rangers, Kwara Win - Complete Sports Nigeria". Complete Sports. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
  8. "Akwa United defeat host Niger Tornadoes in Lokoja". Sportlineng.com. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  9. "Dennis Nya not surprised by Akwa United league resurgence | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
  10. "NPFL: Akwa United outscore Enyimba in Uyo". Completesports.com. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  11. "2018 CAF Confederation Cup: Round of 32, Second Leg – Akwa United vs Al-Hilal club". Leballonrond.fr. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  12. "Akwa United defender wins Dana Air Player of the Month". National Daily NG. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  13. "Veteran coach counsels Golden Eaglets". Futaa.com. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  14. "Veteran coach counsels Golden Eaglets". Goal.com. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  15. "Nigeria win Under-17 World Cup". BBC.com. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
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