Abuchi Obinwa

Maduabuchi "Abuchi" Obinwa (born January 15, 1997) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for South Georgia Tormenta FC in USL League One.

Abuchi Obinwa
Obinwa at a Columbus Crew SC Meet the Team event in 2017
Personal information
Full name Maduabuchi Obinwa
Date of birth (1997-01-15) January 15, 1997
Place of birth Columbus, Ohio, United States
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 South Georgia Tormenta
Number 12
Youth career
Chicago Magic PSG
2014–2016 Hannover 96
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015 Hannover 96 II 0 (0)
2017 Columbus Crew 0 (0)
2017 → Pittsburgh Riverhounds (loan) 7 (0)
2018 Inter Orlando
2018–2019 Lusitano FCV 8 (0)
2020– South Georgia Tormenta 0 (0)
National team‡
2014 United States U18 3 (0)
2015 United States U20 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of December 12, 2019
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of September 7, 2015

Youth

Born in Columbus, Ohio, Obinwa spent time in his youth with Chicago Magic PSG, an affiliate of French club Paris Saint-Germain. While with the team, he was named the 2013 U.S. Soccer Development Academy's U15/16 Central Conference Player of the Year.[1] He also played with the PSG academy and spent time with the youth academy of Spanish club Real Madrid.[2]

Obinwa signed his first professional contract with German club Hannover 96 on January 29, 2015, six months after he had signed an amateur contract with the club.[3] He never made a professional appearance, only appearing for the U19 side in the Under-19 Bundesliga North/Northeast. Obinwa made six appearances over two seasons with the U19s. He also appeared once on the bench for Hannover 96 II in the Regionalliga Nord. Obinwa was an unused substitute against VfR Neumünster on March 29, 2015.[4]

Club career

Columbus Crew SC

On January 25, 2017 Obinwa signed with his hometown club Columbus Crew SC of Major League Soccer.[5] He made his first appearance for Columbus on July 17 in a friendly against German club Eintracht Frankfurt, replacing Mohammed Abu in the 67th minute of a 1–0 victory for Crew SC.[6] Obinwa spent the rest of the season on loan to Pittsburgh, and finished the year without appearing again for Crew SC.

On December 1, 2017, Crew SC declined Obinwa's contract option.[7] He left the club after just one season, and did not make an official appearance while in Columbus.

Loan to Pittsburgh Riverhounds

On March 25, 2017 Columbus sent Obinwa on loan to their affiliate Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the USL.[8] Obinwa made his professional debut on April 8, 2017 against Charleston Battery, entering in the 13th minute to replace fellow Crew SC loanee Ben Swanson as the Riverhounds picked up a 2–1 victory.[9] Four days later, April 12, he started for the first time in his professional career, against Saint Louis FC. Obinwa played 67 minutes before being replaced by Michael Green as the Riverhounds were defeated 2–1.[10] Obinwa played sparingly for the remainder of the season, finishing the year with just seven appearances for Pittsburgh.

Lusitano FCV

Obinwa joined Portuguese third division side Lusitano FCV in 2018.[11]

South Georgia Tormenta FC

Obinwa returned to the United States by signing with USL League One's South Georgia Tormenta FC on December 12, 2019.[12]

International career

Obinwa has represented the United States at U15, U16, U17, U18, and U20 level. Obinwa made three appearances for the U18s at the 2014 U18 International Tournament in Lisbon, Portugal, where he played alongside future club teammate Ben Swanson.[13] He would be called up for the U20 team for the 2015 Stevan Vilotic-Cele Tournament in Serbia, again playing alongside Swanson and making two appearances.[14]

As a dual-citizen, Obinwa is eligible to represent the United States or Nigeria.[15] He also qualifies for the Super Eagles through his parents, who are both Nigerian.

Nigeria age fabrication scandal

In July 2013, sixteen-year-old Obinwa controversially failed an MRI test when undergoing assessment to represent the Nigeria U17 team at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup despite having the necessary paperwork from his country of birth, the United States.[2] Nigeria went on to win the tournament and claim their fourth U-17 World Cup.

Career statistics
As of July 8, 2018[4][16]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Hannover 96 II 2014–15 Regionalliga Nord 00–––00
Columbus Crew SC 2017 MLS 0000–0000
Pittsburgh Riverhounds (loan) 2017 USL 7000––70
Inter Orlando 2018[17] UPSL 00–––00
Career total 7000000070

References
  1. "U.S. SOCCER AWARDS U-15/16 AND U-17/18 ACADEMY PLAYERS AND COACHES OF YEAR FOR 2012-13 SEASON". USSoccer.com. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  2. "Obinwa refuses to rule out Nigeria despite MRI scan failure". BBC.com. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  3. "Abuchi Obinwa signs for Hannover 96". SuperSport.com. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  4. Abuchi Obinwa at Soccerway
  5. "Columbus Crew SC sign young midfielders Abuchi Obinwa and Cristian Martinez". MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  6. "RECAP: Crew SC measures up in friendly, defeats Eintracht Frankfurt". ColumbusCrewSC.com. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  7. "Options exercised on 9 players ahead of 2018 season". ColumbusCrewSC.com. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  8. "Riverhounds seek strong start despite challenging opening matchup". TribLive.com. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
  9. "HOUNDS KNOCK OFF CHARLESTON IN EPIC FASHION, 2-1". Riverhounds.com. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  10. "HOUNDS OUTLASTED BY SAINT LOUIS, 2-1". Riverhounds.com. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  11. "CAMPEONATO DE PORTUGAL 18/19 Abuchi Obinwa é reforço para o meiocampo de Rogério Sousa". NoticiasDeViseu.com (in Portuguese). Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  12. "Tormenta FC Adds Midfielder Abuchi Obinwa to 2020 Roster". TormentaFC.com. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  13. "U-18 MNT TO PLAY AT INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT IN PORTUGAL". USSoccer.com. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  14. "U-20 MNT BEGINS NEW CYCLE AT STEVAN VILOTIC TOURNAMENT IN SERBIA". USSoccer.com. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  15. "Abuchi Obinwa – Columbus Crew SC". ColumbusCrewSC.com. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  16. Abuchi Obinwa at Major League Soccer
  17. "Abuchi Obinwa – Inter Orlando profile". InterOrlandoFC.com. Inter Orlando FC. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
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