Ifeanyi Emeghara

Ifeanyi Emeghara
Personal information
Full name Ifeanyi Innocenti Emeghara
Date of birth (1984-03-24) 24 March 1984
Place of birth Lagos, Nigeria
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position Defender
Youth career
Ebedei
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2004 Teleoptik
2004–2005 Partizan 36 (0)
2006–2007 Politehnica Timișoara 42 (0)
2007–2011 Steaua București 42 (0)
2011 Steaua II București 2 (0)
2013 Gabala 4 (0)
Total 126 (0)
National team
2007–2008 Nigeria 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Ifeanyi Innocenti Emeghara (born 24 March 1984) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a defender. He was deployed equally on the left and the right flank.

Club career

Partizan

After failing to find a club in Italy, Emeghara arrived to Partizan for a trial in January 2003, accompanied by compatriot Oladipupo Martins.[1] They were both eventually assigned to affiliated club Teleoptik. After spending 18 months with the Optičari, Emeghara was promoted to the Partizan first team in June 2004, penning his first professional contract on a four-year deal.[2] He was given the number 16 shirt,[3] previously worn by fellow countryman Taribo West.

In his first season with the Crno-beli, Emeghara established himself as the team's first-choice left-back, making 39 appearances in all competitions, as Partizan won the league title with an unbeaten record and reached the knockout stage of the UEFA Cup.[4] In January 2006, Emeghara was transferred to Romanian club Politehnica Timișoara on a three-year deal.[5]

Steaua București

In June 2007, Emeghara moved to Steaua București for a reported transfer fee of €1.2 million.[6] His time with the Roș-albaștrii was plagued with injuries, particularly to his knees, causing him to make only 58 competitive appearances over the course of five seasons. In February 2013, after being out of contract for a year, Emeghara signed with Azerbaijani side Gabala.[7]

International career

Emeghara made his international debut for Nigeria on 17 November 2007, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 friendly loss against Australia. He was named in Berti Vogts' 23-man squad for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations,[8] remaining an unused substitute during the tournament.

Statistics

Club Season League Cup Continental Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Partizan 2004–05 24040110390
2005–06 1201040170
Total 36050150560
Politehnica Timișoara 2005–06 14000—140
2006–07 28030—310
Total 42030—450
Steaua București 2007–08 1202050190
2008–09 00000000
2009–10 1100010120
2010–11 1102030160
2011–12 801020110
Total 42050110580
Steaua II București 2010–11 20——20
Gabala 2012–13 4000—40
Career total 12601302601650

Honours

Partizan
Steaua București

References

  1. ↑ "Stigli Nigerijci !" (in Serbian). partizan.rs. 11 January 2003. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  2. ↑ "Potpisao i Emeghara" (in Serbian). partizan.rs. 26 June 2004. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  3. ↑ "Partizan: Simon Vukčević nosi broj 1" (in Serbian). b92.net. 1 August 2004. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  4. ↑ "Unbeaten Partizan take title". uefa.com. 17 May 2005. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  5. ↑ "Emeghara potpisao za Politehniku iz Temišvara" (in Serbian). partizan.rs. 15 January 2006. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  6. ↑ "Emeghara va juca cinci ani la Steaua" (in Romanian). 9am.ro. 11 June 2007. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  7. ↑ "Short update to senior team staff - Photos". gabalafc.az. 3 February 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  8. ↑ "Nigeria name strong squad". bbc.co.uk. 10 January 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
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