Obinna Nwobodo

Obinna Nwobodo
	Nwobodo with FC Cincinnati in 2022
Personal information
Full name	Obinna Emmanuel Nwobodo
Date of birth	29 November 1996 (age 27)
Place of birth	Enugu, Nigeria
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	FC Cincinnati
Number	5
Youth career
	FC Inter Enugu
Senior career*
Years	Team
2013–2015	FC Inter Enugu
2015–2017	Enugu Rangers
2017–2020	Újpest
2020–2022	Göztepe
2022–	FC Cincinnati
International career
2015	Nigeria U20
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 September 2024

Obinna Emmanuel Nwobodo (pronunciation^ⓘ; born 29 November 1996) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club FC Cincinnati.

Club career

Early career

Nwobodo started his youth career with FC Inter Enugu while completing his high school education in Enugu State, Nigeria. He was scouted while representing his high school in a football competition and later played for FC Inter in the Nigeria Nationwide League (NNL) and State FA cup. During a preseason friendly between Enugu Rangers and FC Inter Enugu, he put in a man-of-the-match performance that troubled the six-time Nigerian league champions, who promptly negotiated a deal to have him play professionally for them during the 2015–16 league season.^[2]

Enugu Rangers

After signing for Enugu Rangers, Obinna was promoted straight into the first team within a matter of weeks. He was handed his preferred number 8 shirt and registered as a central midfielder. Moving straight into the starting eleven, Nwobodo started majority of the early season games, making his league debut in the season opener against Nigerian league giants Kano Pillars.^[3] He remained in the starting eleven afterwards with his playmaking and distribution helping take Rangers to the very top of the table during the 2016 season.^[4]

Nwobodo was instrumental to Enugu Rangers's eventual title triumph, providing half of the assists for Chisom Egbuchulam's 16 goals and ending Rangers' 32-year wait for a 7th league title.^{[citation needed]} On matchday 37 against Ikorodu United, he scored a goal-of-the-season contender; having sighted the Ikorodu United goalkeeper off his line, he scored with a lofted chip shot from almost 40 yards out. The tally was later increased to two when Nwobodo again made a spectacular run down the right and then delivered a prefect cross for Egbuchulam to simply tap home.^{[citation needed]} That man-of-the-match performance cemented his place in the team of the season. He contributed 7 goals and 10 assists to finish as arguably the best midfielder in the league in his first professional season in the top flight of Nigerian football.^[5]^[6] In December 2016, Nwobodo was presented with the best player award for his performance during the 2016 season by Enugu Rangers management.^[7]

FC Cincinnati

On 13 April 2022, Nwobodo signed for Major League Soccer club FC Cincinnati as a Designated Player. He signed a contract through the 2024 season, with a club option for 2025.^[8]

Honours

Enugu Rangers

Nigeria Professional Football League: 2016^{[citation needed]}

FC Cincinnati

Supporters' Shield: 2023

Nigeria U20

African U-20 Championship: 2015^[9]

References

^ "2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup – Club roster: FC Cincinnati (USA)" (PDF). CONCACAF. 30 January 2024. p. 5. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
^ "Obinna Nwobodo Emmanuel Profile". Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2016..
^ "Rangers list Obinna Nwobodo for Pillars clash - Nigeria Premier League 2016 - Enugu Rangers". Africanfootball.com. 20 February 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
^ Akangbe, Biyi. "Clement, Nwobodo shoot Rangers back on top the NPFL". Soccernet.ng. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
^ "Brilliant Nwobodo lifts Rangers to title". Retrieved 15 December 2016.
^ "Obinna Nwobodo The Nigerian Puppetmaster". Retrieved 6 August 2016.
^ Isiguzo, Christopher (20 December 2016). "Nigeria: Ugwuanyi Showers Champions Rangers With N41.5 Million, Land". This Day (Lagos). Retrieved 5 January 2017.
^ "FC Cincinnati acquire Obinna Nwobodo as a Designated Player". Major League Soccer. 13 April 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
^ "Nigeria name final AYC squad - 2015 African U20 Championship - Cote D'ivoire U20 - Dele Alampasu". 26 February 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2023.

External links

Obinna Nwobodo at Soccerway

[1] "2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup – Club roster: FC Cincinnati (USA)" (PDF). CONCACAF. 30 January 2024. p. 5. Retrieved 30 January 2024.

[2] "Obinna Nwobodo Emmanuel Profile". Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2016..

[3] "Rangers list Obinna Nwobodo for Pillars clash - Nigeria Premier League 2016 - Enugu Rangers". Africanfootball.com. 20 February 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.

[4] Akangbe, Biyi. "Clement, Nwobodo shoot Rangers back on top the NPFL". Soccernet.ng. Retrieved 15 December 2016.

[5] "Brilliant Nwobodo lifts Rangers to title". Retrieved 15 December 2016.

[6] "Obinna Nwobodo The Nigerian Puppetmaster". Retrieved 6 August 2016.

[7] Isiguzo, Christopher (20 December 2016). "Nigeria: Ugwuanyi Showers Champions Rangers With N41.5 Million, Land". This Day (Lagos). Retrieved 5 January 2017.

[8] "FC Cincinnati acquire Obinna Nwobodo as a Designated Player". Major League Soccer. 13 April 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2022.

[9] "Nigeria name final AYC squad - 2015 African U20 Championship - Cote D'ivoire U20 - Dele Alampasu". 26 February 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2023.

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