Victor Igbonefo
{{short description|Indonesian footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Victor Igbonefo
| image = File:Victor Igbonefo.jpg
| image_size = 140px
| caption = Igbonefo playing for Navy in 2016
| fullname = Victor Chukwuekezie Igbonefo
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1985|10|10}}
| birth_place = Enugu, Nigeria
| height = {{convert|1.83|m|order=flip}}{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/victor-igbonefo/|title=Victor Igbonefo: Profile |website=worldfootball.net |publisher=HEIM:SPIEL |access-date=10 October 2020}}
| position = Centre-back
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}
| youthclubs1 = Nigerdock Soccer Academy
| years1 = 2003–2004
| clubs1 = First Bank
| caps1 = 18
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2005–2011
| clubs2 = Persipura Jayapura
| caps2 = 162
| goals2 = 8
| years3 = 2011–2012
| clubs3 = Pelita Jaya
| caps3 = 31
| goals3 = 5
| years4 = 2012
| clubs4 = → Chiangrai United (loan)
| caps4 = 12
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2013–2016
| clubs5 = Arema Cronus
| caps5 = 60
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2015
| clubs6 = → Osotspa Samut Prakan (loan)
| caps6 = 8
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2016
| clubs7 = Navy
| caps7 = 29
| goals7 = 2
| years8 = 2017
| clubs8 = Nakhon Ratchasima
| caps8 = 33
| goals8 = 2
| years9 = 2018
| clubs9 = Persib Bandung
| caps9 = 27
| goals9 = 0
| years10 = 2019
| clubs10 = PTT Rayong
| caps10 = 27
| goals10 = 0
| years11 = 2020–2025
| clubs11 = Persib Bandung
| caps11 = 60
| goals11 = 0
| pcupdate = 24 May 2025
| nationalyears1 = 2014
| nationalteam1 = Indonesia Asian Games (O.P.)
| nationalcaps1 = 4
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2013–2021
| nationalteam2 = Indonesia
| nationalcaps2 = 14
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| medaltemplates ={{MedalSport|Men's football}}
{{Medal|Country|{{fb|Indonesia}}}}
{{Medal|Competition|AFF Championship}}
{{medal|RU | 2020 Singapore | Team}}
| nationalteam-update =
}}
Victor Chukwuekezie Igbonefo {{IPAc-en||audio=Ig-Victor Chukwuekezie Igbonef.ogg}} (born 10 October 1985) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back. Born in Nigeria, he played for the Indonesia national team.
Club career
=Early career=
Igbonefo started his career by joining Nigerdock Soccer Academy in Nigeria. In 2003, He signed his first professional contract for Lagos based club, First Bank.{{cite web|url=https://kumparan.com/kumparanbola/kisah-victor-igbonefo-gagal-ke-eropa-bersinar-di-indonesia-1tM3oMtf6bu|title=Kisah Victor Igbonefo: Gagal ke Eropa, Bersinar di Indonesia|website=kumparanBOLA|language=id|date=5 May 2020}} He made 18 league appearances with the club before leaving in 2004.
=Persipura Jayapura=
In 2005, Igbonefo signed for Indonesian league giant, Persipura Jayapura. On his first season with the club, he won the 2005 Indonesian League, after defeating Persija Jakarta 3–2 in the final.{{Cite web|title=Indonesia 2005|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/indo05.html|access-date=2021-11-26|website=RSSSF}} Igbonefo became a key player for Persipura in their campaign to win the league in 2008–09 and 2010–11 respectively, he also formed a solid partnership in the heart of defence with Bio Paulin.{{cite web|url=https://m.bola.net/profile/victor_chukwuekezie_igbonefo/|title=Profil Victor Igbonefo - Bola.net|language=id}} On 7 October 2009, Igbonefo helped Persipura to win the 2009 Indonesian Community Shield after defeating Sriwijaya 3–1 at Andi Mattalatta Stadium.
=Pelita Jaya=
On 12 October 2011, it was announced that Igbonefo has joined Pelita Jaya, two-days after he was naturalized as Indonesian citizen.{{cite web|url=https://www.viva.co.id/bola/liga-indonesia/255008-greg-dan-igbonefo-gabung-pelita-jaya|title=Greg dan Igbonefo Gabung Pelita Jaya|work=VIVA.co.id|date=12 October 2011|accessdate=30 November 2021}} He only stayed a season, making 31 appearances and scoring 5 goals.
On 6 August 2012, Igbonefo was loaned out to Thai Premier League club Chiangrai United. He was loaned with teammate Greg Nwokolo until October 2012.{{cite web|url=https://amp.kompas.com/bola/read/2012/08/06/1659587/pelita.pinjamkan.greg.dan.igbonefo.ke.klub.thailand|title=Pelita Pinjamkan Greg dan Igbonefo ke Klub Thailand|work=Kompas.com|date=6 August 2012|accessdate=30 November 2021}} During his short loan spell, Igbonefo made 12 appearances and scoring a goal.
=Arema Cronus=
During the 2013 season, Igbonefo helped Arema Cronus finish as league runners-up.{{cite web|url=https://skor.id/post/kilas-balik-arema-fc-2013-los-galacticos-milik-bakrie-cronus-yang-gagal-juara-01393300|title=Kilas Balik Arema FC 2013: Los Galacticos Milik Bakrie Cronus yang Gagal Juara|work=skor.id|date=8 September 2021|accessdate=30 November 2021|language=id}} On 25 February 2014, Igbonefo scored his first goal for Arema Cronus, in a 1–1 draw against Selangor in the 2014 AFC Cup group stage match tie.{{cite web|url=https://bola.bisnis.com/read/20140225/58/206012/hasil-piala-afc-selangor-vs-arema-skor-akhir-1-1|title=Hasil Piala AFC Selangor Vs Arema, Skor Akhir 1-1|work=Bisnis.com|date=25 February 2014|accessdate=30 November 2021|language=id}}
On 28 July 2015, Igbonefo returned to Thailand, by signing a loan deal for Osotspa Samut Prakan, he was given the number 30 shirt. He was signed by the team, to strengthen them in the second half of the 2015 season.{{cite web|url=https://sports.sindonews.com/beritaamp/1027003/59/resmi-diperkenalkan-osotspa-victor-igbonefo-pakai-no-30|title=Resmi Diperkenalkan Osotspa, Victor Igbonefo Pakai No 30|work=SINDONEWS|date=28 July 2015|accessdate=30 November 2021|language=id}}
=Navy=
On 2 January 2016, It was announced that Igbonefo has joined Thai League 1 club, Royal Navy.{{cite web|url=https://m.bola.com/indonesia/read/2403090/tak-kembali-ke-arema-victor-igbonefo-gabung-royal-navy|title=Tak Kembali ke Arema, Victor Igbonefo Gabung Royal Navy|work=Bola.com|date=3 January 2016|accessdate=30 November 2021|language=id}} On 20 July 2016, He scored an equaliser in the 90th-minute to help Navy hold BEC Tero Sasana 1-1.{{cite web|url=https://m.bola.com/indonesia/read/2557966/victor-igbonefo-cetak-gol-perdana-dan-masuk-best-xi-liga-thailand|title=Victor Igbonefo Cetak Gol Perdana dan Masuk Best XI Liga Thailand|work=Bola.com|date=21 July 2016|accessdate=30 November 2021|language=id}} In his only season with the club, Igbonefo recorded 29 appearances and scored 2 goals, with his team finishing 14th in the league.
International career
The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) announced that Igbonefo has been officially naturalised on 10 October 2011. He made his debut for the Indonesia national football team in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification campaign against Saudi Arabia on 23 March 2013.{{cite web|title=Indonesia Takluk 1-2 dari Arab Saudi|url=https://sport.detik.com/sepakbola/liga-indonesia/d-2201981/indonesia-takluk-1-2-dari-arab-saudi|access-date=23 March 2013}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 24 May 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/victor-igbonefo/48425/|title=Indonesia - V. Igbonefo - Profile with news, career statistics and history|website=Soccerway|access-date=11 August 2019}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup{{efn|Includes Thai FA Cup}} !colspan="2"|Continental{{efn|Appearances in AFC Cup}} !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="1" valign="center"|Pelita Jaya
|rowspan="1" valign="center"|Indonesia Super League |31 | 5 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 31 | 5 | ||
| rowspan="1" valign="center"|Chiangrai United (loan)
|2012 |rowspan="1" valign="center"|Thai Premier League |12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | ||
| rowspan="4" valign="center"|Arema
|2013 |rowspan="1" valign="center"|Indonesia Super League |32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 32 | 0 | ||
| 2014
|rowspan="1" valign="center"|Indonesia Super League |26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 1 | |
| 2015
|rowspan="1" valign="center"|Indonesia Super League |2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!60 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 1 | |
| Samut Prakan (loan)
|2015 |Thai Premier League |8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| Navy
|2016 |29 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 29 | 2 | ||
| Nakhon Ratchasima
|2017 |Thai League 1 |33 | 2 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 35 | 2 | ||
| rowspan="1" valign="center"|Persib Bandung
|2018 |rowspan="1" valign="center"|Liga 1 |27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 2{{efn|Appearances in Indonesia President's Cup}} | 0 | 29 | 0 | ||
| PTT Rayong
|2019 |Thai League 1 |27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="6" valign="center"|Persib Bandung
|2020 |rowspan="1" valign="center"|Liga 1 |3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22
|rowspan="1" valign="center"|Liga 1 |19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 8{{efn|Appearances in Menpora Cup}} | 1 | 27 | 1 | ||
| 2022–23
|rowspan="1"|Liga 1 |15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 2 | 1 | 17 | 1 | ||
| 2023–24
|rowspan="1"|Liga 1 |14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25
|Liga 1 |7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearances in AFC Champions League Two}} | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!60 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 71 | 2 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!285 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 308 | 13 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 9 December 2021}}
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="4"|Indonesia
|2013 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 4 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|Total||14||0 |
Honours
Persipura Jayapura
- Indonesia Super League: 2008–09, 2010–11
- Liga Indonesia Premier Division: 2005
- Indonesian Community Shield: 2009{{cite web|url=http://bola.kompas.com/read/2009/10/07/22440719/Persipura.Balas.Sriwijaya.di.Community.Shield|title=Persipura Balas Sriwijaya di Community Shield |language=id}}
Arema Cronus
- Menpora Cup: 2013
- Inter Island Cup: 2014{{cite web|title=Jadwal Persib vs Arema Final Inter Island Cup Digelar 1 Februari 2015 di Palembang|url=http://www.rancahpost.co.id/20150127986/jadwal-persib-vs-arema-final-inter-island-cup-digelar-1-februari-2015-di-palembang/|work=rancahpost.co.id|date=23 January 2015|publisher=Liga Indonesia|access-date=23 January 2015|language=id}}
Persib Bandung
- Liga 1: 2023–24,{{cite web |url=https://www.cnnindonesia.com/olahraga/20240531203151-142-1104458/persib-bandung-juara-liga-1-2023-2024 |title=Persib Bandung Juara Liga 1 2023/2024 |publisher=CNN Indonesia |date=31 May 2024 |accessdate=1 June 2024}} 2024–25{{cite web |url=https://www.cnnindonesia.com/olahraga/20250505164417-142-1225977/persib-juara-liga-1-usai-persebaya-imbang/amp |title=Persib Juara Liga 1 Usai Persebaya Imbang |publisher=CNN Indonesia |date=5 May 2025 |accessdate=5 May 2025}}
Indonesia
- AFF Championship runner-up: 2020{{cite web |title=Piala AFF 2020 Indonesia vs Thailand: Statistik Pertandingan Tunjukkan Kelemahan Garuda {{!}} liputan6.com |url=https://www.liputan6.com/bola/read/4844069/piala-aff-2020-indonesia-vs-thailand-statistik-pertandingan-tunjukkan-kelemahan-garuda |website=www.liputan6.com |date=30 December 2021|access-date=30 December 2021|language=id}}
Individual
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|victor-igbonefo/48425}}
- {{NFT player|pid=51932|name=Victor Igbonefo}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Igbonefo, Victor}}
Category:Footballers from Enugu
Category:Indonesian men's footballers
Category:Indonesia men's international footballers
Category:Nigerian men's footballers
Category:Nigerian emigrants to Indonesia
Category:Indonesian people of Nigerian descent
Category:Naturalised citizens of Indonesia
Category:Indonesian Premier Division players
Category:Liga 1 (Indonesia) players
Category:Persipura Jayapura players
Category:Madura United F.C. players
Category:Persib Bandung players
Category:Nigerian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Indonesia
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Indonesia
Category:Indonesian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Indonesian expatriate sportspeople in Thailand
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Thailand
Category:Footballers at the 2014 Asian Games
Category:Men's association football central defenders
Category:Asian Games footballers for Indonesia