Victor Nsofor Obinna

Infobox Football biography
playername= Victor Obinna
fullname = Victor Nsofor Obinna
height = height|meter=1.78cite web |language=Italian |accessdate=2007-08-15 |title=Victor Nsofor OBINNA |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/speciali/serie_b/2008_nw/giocatori/82663.shtml |publisher=La Gazzetta dello Sport]
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1987|3|25
cityofbirth = Jos
countryofbirth = Nigeria
currentclub = Internazionale
clubnumber = 21
position = Striker
years = 2002
2003
2004
2005
2005–2008
2008-
clubs = Plateau United
Kwara United
Enyimba
Internacional Porto Alegre
Chievo
Internazionale
caps(goals) =010 0(5)
010 0(6)
010 0(7)
00 0(0)
082 (22)
01 0(0)
nationalyears = 2006–
nationalteam = Nigeria
nationalcaps(goals) = 008 0(3)
pcupdate = 2008-07-13
ntupdate = 22 August 2007

Victor Nsofor Obinna (born March 25, 1987 in Jos, Nigeria) is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a striker for Internazionale.

Biography

His name, Obinna in Igbo, literally means "Father´s heart". [ [http://www.nigerian.name/w/index.php?title=Obinna Meaning of Obinna in Nigerian.name] ] He played for Chievo in Italy's Serie B, having played regularly in Serie A with the club until their relegation in 2007. He made his full international debut for Nigeria at the 2006 African Cup of Nations, scoring once in three appearances as his side were eliminated in the semifinals.

Club career

Enyimba

Obinna played for Nigerian clubs Plateau United and Kwara United, before signing for then-African champions Enyimba in 2005. In the same year, he went on trials with Italian clubs Inter Milan, Perugia and Juventus before signing with Brazilian club Internacional Porto Alegre, but international clearance problems meant that the transfer was never finalised. [http://www.nigerianplayers.com/player.asp?pID=372 "Victor Obinna"] ] He rejoined Enyimba to take part in their domestic league campaign and CAF Champions League defence.

Chievo Verona

Obinna was signed by Italian club Chievo on a three-year contract in July 2005.. In his first season with Chievo, Obinna scored 6 goals in 26 games, including a goal on his Serie A debut against Parma in a 1-0 win, 11 September, 2005. In the first months of the 2006 season, Obinna was suspended for having signed a contract with both Internacional and Chievo in 2005. [http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/aug22j.html "Chievo deny Obinna exit"] ] Chievo were relegated at the end of the 2006-07 season, casting some doubt over Obinna's future; however, the club successively chose to keep Obinna into the squad to help them earn promotion back to Serie A.

On October 4, 2007, Obinna was involved in a car accident on his way home from training in which he swerved away from a vehicle that tried to overtake him around a bend, escaping with only a few bruises and shock.Fact|date=August 2008 The car flipped several times and was totally destroyed. He lost consciousness and was taken to hospital. The accident occurred approximately 100 metres away from where former Chievo player Jason Mayélé was killed in a car accident in 2002. Fact|date=August 2008

Internazionale

In August 2008 Obinna moved to Internazionale Milano F.C. signing a four year deal. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7586221.stm|publisher=BBC Sport Online|title= Everton try to bring in Obinna|date=2008-08-28|accessdate=2008-08-28] English club Everton attempted to immediately sign him on loan, but were unable to secure a work permit for the player. [cite web|url=http://evertonfc.com/news/archive/obinna-deal-falls-through.html|title=Obinna Deal Falls Through|first=Scott |last=McLeod |publisher=www.evertonfc.com|date=2008-09-01|accessdate=2008-09-01]

His new number is 21. [cite web|url=http://www.inter.it/aas/news/reader?N=29840&L=en|title=Obinna in training|publisher=www.inter.it|date=2008-09-18|accessdate=2008-09-18]

National team

Obinna was called up to the Nigerian senior squad at the 2006 African Cup of Nations, scoring once before his side's semifinal elimination. Fact|date=September 2008

In August 2008, he was named amongst Nigeria's squad for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Obinna scored Nigeria's first goal in a 2–1 win against Japan [http://www.fifa.com/mensolympic/matches/round=250016/match=300051793/report.html] the "Super Eagles' winning goal in the final group match against the USA, ensuring that Nigeria qualified for the quarter-finals. [cite web|url=http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_8945664.html|title=Down to 10 Men After Three Minutes, Valiant U.S. Effort Falls Short as 2-1 Loss to Nigeria Knocks Them Out of 2008 Olympics |publisher=www.ussoccer.com|accessdate=2008-09-01] Nigeria were drawn against Ivory Coast who they beat 2–0, with Obinna scoring a penalty and setting up Peter Odemwingie for the other goal. He later captained the Nigerian team and produced a remarkable display of football artistry when they beat Belgium 4 - 1 in the semi-final match. Nigeria then had Argentina and history was hoping to be made again like in 1996, Nigeria ended up losing the match 0-1 however Nigeria claimed a silver olympic medal.

References

External links

* [http://www.footballdatabase.com/site/players/index.php?dumpPlayer=6537 FootballDatabase.com profile]
* [http://soccernet-akamai.espn.go.com/players/stats?id=68252&cc=3888 Soccernet.com profile]
* [http://www.nigerianplayers.com/player.asp?pID=372 NigerianPlayers.com profile]
*FIFA player|230228

And his religion is buddism