Uche Akubuike

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Uche Akubuike

| fullname =Akubike justine Uche

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1980|3|17}}

| birth_place = kaduna state, Nigeria

| height = {{height|meter=1.80}}

| currentclub = Enyimba

| position = Goalkeeper

| clubnumber =

| years1 = 1997

| years2 = 1998–1999

| years3 =

| years4 =

| years5 =

| years6 =

| years7 =

| years8 = {{0|0000}}–2003

| years9 = 2003–2005

| years10 = 2004–2005

| years11 = 2005

| years12 = 2006

| years13 = 2007–2008

| years14 = 2008–2010

| years15 = 2010–2012

| years16 = 2012

| clubs1 = NITEL Lagos

| clubs2 = Jasper United

| clubs3 = Gabros International

| clubs4 = USM Blida

| clubs5 = Canon Yaoundé

| clubs6 = → Hajduk Kula (loan)

| clubs7 = → B71 Sandoy (loan)

| clubs8 = Gombe United

| clubs9 = Julius Berger

| clubs10 = → Platinum Stars (loan)

| clubs11 = Dolphins

| clubs12 = → Kwara United (loan)

| clubs13 = Sharks

| clubs14 = Wikki Tourists

| clubs15 = Gombe United

| clubs16 = Enyimba

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| nationalyears1 = 1998

| nationalteam1 = Nigeria

| nationalcaps1 = 5

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| pcupdate =

| ntupdate =

}}

Uche Akubuike (born 17 March 1980 in Akwa Ibom) is a Nigerian football goalkeeper. He plays club football for Enyimba.[http://www.galloimages.co.za/image/uche-akubuike-gombe-united-nigeria-premier/1080164/1 Photo from 2011 at Gombe Utd.][http://www.mtnfootball.com/africa/nigeria/premier-league/news/2012/may/07-uche-akubuike-joins-enyimba.html Akubuike joins Enyimba (MTNfootball)]

Playing career

He began his career in 1997 with NITEL Vasco Da Gama F.C. later moving in 1998 to Jasper United. After 1 year with Jasper United, he left the club and moved to Algerian USM Blida.[http://www.news24.com/xArchive/Sport/Soccer/Report-Uche-Akubike-in-jail-20040907 Report: Uche Akubike in jail] at news24.com, 7-9-2004, retrieved 1-7-2016 Afterwards he signed with Canon Yaoundé, and also played on loan with FK Hajduk Kula in Serbia, and B71 Sandoy in the Faroe Islands. In January 2003 he transferred to Julius Berger FC,[http://allafrica.com/stories/200301270450.html Nigeria: Berger Sign Akubuike, Nine Others ...retain 24 Players] at AllAfrica, 25-1-2003, retrieved 1-7-2016 and, later, he played on loan for Platinum Stars in 2005.

He controversially left the South African club after being arrested for visa irregularities.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/3645530.stm SA detain Nigerian goalkeeper] at BBC Sport, 10-9-2004, retrieved 1-7-2016 He left Berger in 2006 and moved to Dolphins F.C.{{Cite web|url=http://www.modernghana.com/news2/71310/2/big-spending-dolphins-recruit-against-hearts.html|title=Modern Ghana|website=www.modernghana.com|language=en|access-date=2018-05-14}} Later in 2006, he moved on loan to Kwara United F.C. After the loan returned for one month before moving to crosstown rival Sharks F.C. On 14 February 2008 left Port Harcourt and signs a contract for Wikki Tourists.[http://www.kickoff.com/news/2049/wikki-will-be-ready-bosso.php Wikki will be ready - Bosso] at KickOff, 5-3-2008, retrieved 1-7-2016 AKubuike then played with Gombe United between 2010 and 2012.[http://www.zerozero.pt/jogador.php?id=247248 Uche Akubuike] at zerozero.pt

He signed for Enyimba in May 2012.[http://www.ghanamma.com/2012/05/07/uche-akubuike-joins-enyimba/ Uche Akubuike joins Enyimba] at ghanamma.com, 7-5-2012, retrieved 1-7-2016

International

He was called up by Bora Milutinović for the Nigeria national football team[http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-chile-cost-england-place-in-rankings-1145719.html Independent.co.uk] {{dead link|date=August 2019}} as back-up goalkeeper in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He has also played a number of friendly matches and has been part of Nigerian team in the African Nations Cup qualifiers. He was also part of the Nigerian team in the Hong Kong 4 Nations Tournament.