Michael Uchebo

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Michael Uchebo

| image = Okechukwu Uchebo of Rangers (1).jpg

| upright = 0.8

| full_name = Michael Okechukwu Uchebo

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1990|02|03}}

| birth_place = Enugu, Nigeria

| height = 1.94 m{{cite web|url=http://www.vvv-venlo.nl/spelers-details.asp?SelectieID=65|title=Michael Uchebo|publisher=vvv-venlo.nl|accessdate=14 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920084523/http://www.vvv-venlo.nl/spelers-details.asp?SelectieID=65|archive-date=20 September 2011|url-status=dead}}

| position = Forward

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 2008–2009

| clubs1 = Enugu Rangers

| caps1 = 13

| goals1 = 2

| years2 = 2010–2012

| clubs2 = VVV-Venlo

| caps2 = 58

| goals2 = 8

| years3 = 2012–2014

| clubs3 = Cercle Brugge

| caps3 = 55

| goals3 = 7

| years4 = 2014–2017[https://www.ojogo.pt/futebol/1a-liga/boavista/noticias/interior/boavista-rescinde-com-michael-uchebo-5599159.html Boavista rescinde com Michael Uchebo]‚ ojogo.pt, 11 January 2017

| clubs4 = Boavista

| caps4 = 41

| goals4 = 4

| years5 = 2018–2019

| clubs5 = Enugu Rangers

| caps5 = 0

| goals5 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2008–2009

| nationalteam1 = Nigeria U-20

| nationalcaps1 = 5

| nationalgoals1 = 3

| nationalyears2 = 2014

| nationalteam2 = Nigeria

| nationalcaps2 = 5

| nationalgoals2 = 1

}}

Michael Okechukwu Uchebo (born 2 February 1990) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a forward. He made five appearances for the Nigeria national team, scoring once.

Club career

Uchebo began his career in Enugu Rangers.[http://wow.gm/africa/gambia/article/nigeria-beat-togo-2-0-in-wafu-opener Nigeria Beat Togo 2–0] He signed a three-year contract with VVV Venlo in October 2009.{{Cite web |date=26 November 2009 |title=VVV-Venlo kan Nigerianen eindelijk verwelkomen |url=https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/vvvvenlo-kan-nigerianen-eindelijk-verwelkomen |access-date=5 March 2024 |website=Voetbal International |language=nl}} Venlo's football director Mario Captien described him as a physically very strong striker who is a target man at the front.[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=nl&u=http://www.roadto2010.nl/2010/featured/uitgelicht-micheal-uchebo-de-cultheld-van-vvv/&ei=0VisTYPnHciv8gOiz-S4Ag&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CB8Q7gEwAA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmichael%2Buchebo%2Bhendriks%2Bfeyenoord%26hl%3Den%26prmd%3Divnso "Spotlight: Michael Uchebo, the cult hero of VVV"] 23 February 2010[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=nl&u=http://koning.web-log.nl/kris_en_joan_fanblog/2010/02/vvv-wist-er-afg.html&ei=2Q-7TZ_cA4K6hAfIl6i5BQ&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CCEQ7gEwAA&prev=/search%3Fq%3DVVV%2Bop%2Brapport%2B(VVV%2B-%2BAZ%2B3-3)%26hl%3Den%26prmd%3Divns "Uchebo: The black Johan Cruyff"][http://www.thuisinvoetbal.nl/artikel/1712/vvv-venlo-borussia-moenchengladbach-1-2.html VVV-Venlo – Borussia Mönchengladbach 1 (uchebo) – 2] Dutch Voetbal International referred to Uchebo as the new Nwankwo Kanu.[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=nl&u=http://msn.vi.nl/Achtergronden/Nababbel/176554/Dramatisch-oranje-recidivist-en-de-nieuwe-Kanu.htm&ei=kUenTeatPI-Mswbyp4ieCA&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CB4Q7gEwAA&prev=/search%3Fq%3DDramatisch%2Boranje,%2Brecidivist%2Ben%2Bde%2Bnieuwe%2BKanu%26hl%3Den%26prmd%3Divnsm Voetbal International Who's hot Who's not]

In November 2011, Venlo's chairman Hai Berden revealed that the club was in talks with English side Stoke City regarding the transfer of Uchebo.[http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/7296468/ "Uchebo set for Stoke talks"] Sky Sports, 6 November 2011 In January 2012 Uchebo joined Stoke City on trial.{{cite news|title=Stoke take Nigerian striker Michael Uchebo on trial|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16482730.stm|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=10 January 2012}}{{cite web|title=Pulis casts eye over Nigerian striker Uchebo|url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/story-14379913-detail/story.html?|work=The Sentinel|accessdate=10 January 2012}}{{Dead link|date=January 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} However, at the end of the trial, the club decided not to sign him.{{cite news|title=Stoke City end interest in trialist Michael Uchebo|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16546513.stm?|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=13 January 2012}} On 25 January, Uchebo joined Rangers on a trial. His trial at the club ended after just one day, with conflicting reports from the player and Rangers. The agent of Uchebo claimed that player cut short his trial due to a poor impression of Rangers after Ally McCoist did not attend the single training session in question, while McCoist said that it was a club decision.[http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/rangers/295264-michael-uchebo-ends-rangers-trial-after-one-day/ "Michael Uchebo ends Rangers trial after one day"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131150111/http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/rangers/295264-michael-uchebo-ends-rangers-trial-after-one-day/ |date=31 January 2012 }} STV.tv{{cite web|url=http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/football-news/article/2590983 |title=Watching Brief |publisher=rangers.co.uk |accessdate=27 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130224916/http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/football-news/article/2590983 |archivedate=30 January 2012 }}[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/jan/27/ally-mccoist-rangers?newsfeed=true "Ally McCoist dismisses stories he could walk away from Rangers"] The Guardian 27 January 2012

After saving Venlo from relegation with a late goal in extra time of the Eredivisie relegation playoffs second round match against SC Cambuur, Uchebo revealed that he won't renew his expiring contract at VVV.[http://www.supersport.com/football/nigeria/news/120529/VVVVenlo_and_Uchebo_part "VVV Venlo and Uchebo part"] Tuesday, 29 May 2012[http://www.voetbalcentraal.nl/nieuws/79424/uchebo-maakt-vertrek-bekend-een-moeilijke-beslissing voetbalcentraal.nl] Tuesday, 29 May 2012 On 29 May Venlo announced that they had reached an agreement with Cercle Brugge. Uchebo subsequently signed a two-year deal with Cercle Brugge.[http://www.vvv-venlo.nl/nl/mannen-uchebo-naar-cercle.htm "Uchebo joins Cercle"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306025042/http://www.vvv-venlo.nl/nl/mannen-uchebo-naar-cercle.htm |date=6 March 2018 }} VVV Official website Tuesday, 29 May 2012

On 11 October 2014, Uchebo signed for Boavista on a three-year contract. He scored his first goal on his first match, against Paços de Ferreira, in a 2–1 home loss.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29569625|title=Nigeria striker Michael Uchebo joins Boavista|date=11 October 2014|work=BBC Sport|access-date=14 May 2018|language=en-GB}}

International career

Uchebo was a member of the Nigeria U-20 team and in August 2008 he scored his first goal for Nigeria in a match against Togo in the West African Football Union tournament. He also played at the U-20 2009 African Youth Championship tournament, scoring one goal in three matches.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7844715.stm|title=SA go top as Egypt win in Kigali|date=2009|access-date=14 May 2018}} He was described in the media as the most sought-after player among the Nigeria squad in the tournament.{{Cite web |url=http://www.sports-day.com/nigeria/news/2009-01-24/scouts-jostle-uchebo.html |title="Scouts Jostle For Uchebo" |access-date=23 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716122139/http://www.sports-day.com/nigeria/news/2009-01-24/scouts-jostle-uchebo.html |archive-date=16 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}

In June 2011 Uchebo was called up by current Olympic team and National U-23 coach Austin Eguavoen for the crucial return leg of the Olympic qualifiers against Tanzania.

[http://www.peoplesdaily-online.com/sport/sport-news/14187-eguavoen-calls-ahmed-uchebo-for-tanzania- "Eguavoen calls Ahmed, Uchebo for Tanzania Thursday"] People's Daily, 9 June 2011

In October 2011 U-23 coach Austin Eguavoen visited the Netherlands and met with officials of VVV Venlo to secure the release of Uchebo to participate in the inaugural edition of the CAF U-23 championship in Morocco.

{{Cite news|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201110270949.html|title=Nigeria: London 2012 - Eguavoen in Italy for Joel|date=27 October 2011|work=This Day (Lagos)|access-date=14 May 2018}}

He received his first call-up to the Nigeria national team in February 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26122915|title=Uncapped trio called up by Nigeria|date=10 February 2014|accessdate=11 February 2014|author=Oluwashina Okeleji|publisher=BBC Sport}}

Uchebo earned his first senior cap on 6 March, in the 0–0 draw with Mexico in a friendly match, playing the first half before being replaced by Leon Balogun.{{cite web|publisher=flashscore.com|title=Mexico vs. Nigeria 0:0|url=http://www.flashscore.com/match/4r8GT2nL/#lineups;1|accessdate=13 March 2014}}

In the next of Nigeria's matches, a 2–2 draw with Scotland at Craven Cottage, Uchebo played 55 minutes of the match. After Scotland had taken the lead, Uchebo equalised before the break with a mid-range deflected effort. His replacement was Peter Odemwingie.