Vivian Ikechukwu

{{Short description|Nigerian footballer (born 1997)}}

{{Use Nigerian English|date=February 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Vivian Ikechukwu

|image =

|upright =

|alt =

|caption =

|full_name = Vivian Obianujunwa Ikechukwu

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1997|7|10}}

|birth_place = Nigeria

|height = 1.68m

|position = Forward

|currentclub = Santos Laguna

|clubnumber = 22

|youthyears1 =

|youthclubs1 =

|years1 =

|clubs1 = Abia Angels F.C.

|caps1 =

|goals1 =

|years2 = 2018–2022

|clubs2 = Rivers Angels

|caps2 =

|goals2 =

|years3 = 2022

|clubs3 = Gintra Universitetas

|caps3 = 19

|goals3 = 14

|years4 = 2022–2024

|clubs4 = Beşiktaş

|caps4 = 30

|goals4 = 9

|years5 = 2024

|clubs5 = Cruz Azul

|caps5 = 11

|goals5 = 1

| years6 = 2025–

| clubs6 = Santos Laguna

| caps6 = 0

| goals6 = 0

|nationalyears1 =

|nationalteam1 = Nigeria

|nationalcaps1 = 10

|nationalgoals1 = 2

|medaltemplates =

|club-update = 11 February 2024

|nationalteam-update =

}}

Vivian Obianujunwa Ikechukwu (born 10 July 1997) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Liga MX Femenil club Cruz Azul and the Nigeria women's national team.

Club career

Ikechukwu is 1.68 m tall and plays in the forward position.

She began her professional career with Abia Angels F.C. in the NWFL Premiership.

= Rivers Angels F.C. =

In 2018, Ikechukwu transferred to the Port Harcourt club Rivers Angels F.C. playing in the top-level league NWFL Premiership. She won the 2018 Women’s Aiteo Cup held in Yenagoa. Her team became league champion in 2019, and 2020–21 seasons. She played at the 2021 CAF Women's Champions League in Cairo, Egypt, and scored two goals. In February 2022, she was named Player of the Month of the NWPL.

= FC Gintra Universitetas =

In March 2022, Ikechukwu went to Lithuania, and joined the A Lyga club FC Gintra Universitetas. She played at the 2022–23 UEFA Women's Champions League. She scored 14 goals in 19 matches played. Her one-year contract expired in December 2022.

= Beşiktaş J.K. =

End January 2023, Ikechukwu moved to Turkey, and signed a half-season deal with the Istanbul-based club Beşiktaş J.K. to play in the Turkish Women's Football Super League. In the 2022–23 Super League's second half, she capped in four matches. In May 2023, she suffered calf muscle strain. Her contract with Beşiktaş J.K. was extended for one year in the 2023–24 Super League. She suffered a leg injury in December 2023.

She played in 30 official matches for Beşiktaş, where she played for 1.5 seasons. She contributed 9 goals and 5 assists and stayed on the field for over 2.000 minutes.http://www.soccerdonna.de/en/vivian-ikechukwu/leistungsdaten/spieler_23104.html

= Cruz Azul F.C. =

Middle of July 2024, Ikechukwu moved to Mexico, and signed with the Mexico City-based club Cruz Azul (women) to play in the Liga MX Femenil.https://www.instagram.com/p/C9kkPT3pNlq/?img_index=1 She scored a goal in a 4-1 win against Santos Laguna on 17.08.2024. https://www.instagram.com/p/C-yKdBGuIzj/

In a statement made by the club in the first week of December, they were announced that Ikechukwu would not continue next season.https://www.instagram.com/p/DDNRQqJJIhW/?img_index=1

International career

Ikechukwu is a member of the Nigeria national team. She scored two goals against South Africa in the Aisha Buhari International Invitational Tournament in 2021. She was part of the fourth-placed nationatl team at the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nation in Morocco.

Personal life

Ikechukwu was born in Nigeria on 10 July 1997.

Honours

Rivers Angels F.C.

FC Gintra Universitetas

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite web|url=https://www.soccerdonna.de/de/vivian-ikechukwu/profil/spieler_23104.html |publisher=Soccerway |title=19 Vivian Ikechukwu |language=de |accessdate=11 February 2024 }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.tff.org/Default.aspx?pageID=30&kisiID=2500360 |publisher=Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu |title=Vivian Obianujuwan Ikechukwu |language=tr |accessdate=11 February 2024 }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.fotomac.com.tr/haberleri/vivian-ikechukwu |publisher=FotoMaç |title=Vivian Ikechukwu |language=tr |accessdate=11 February 2024 }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.mackolik.com/takim/nijerya-k/kadro/ddhjicq33fc8mfavld34x1iva/haz%C4%B1rl%C4%B1k-kad%C4%B1nlar/2022/91jifxei9sjpv0afezbdhobo4 |publisher=Mackolik |title=Nijerya (K)

|language=tr |accessdate=11 February 2024 }}

{{cite news |url=https://www.sports247.ng/i-always-go-for-the-best-rivers-angels-product-vivian-ikechukwu-reacts-after-joining-wfc-gintra/ |newspaper=Sports 247 |title= Always Go For The Best; Rivers Angels Product Vivian Ikechukwu Reacts After Joining WFC GINTRA |date=24 March 2022 |accessdate=11 February 2024 }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.playmakerstats.com/match.php?id=8726349 |publisher=Playmaker Stats |title=Gintra Universitetas FC 0–2 KuPS |date=18 August 2022 |accessdate=11 February 2024 }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.cafonline.com/caf-womens-champions-league/news/mamelodi-sundowns-and-asfar-s-goalless-draw-qualifies-both-rivers-angels-beat-vi |publisher=CAF Online |title=Mamelodi Sundowns and ASFAR's goalless draw qualifies both, Rivers Angels beat Vihiga Queens 4–0

|date=12 November 2021 |accessdate=11 February 2024 }}

{{cite news |url=https://www.aspor.com.tr/besiktas/2023/01/26/besiktas-kadin-futbol-takimi-nijeryali-vivian-ikechukwuyu-transfer-ettigini-duyurdu |newspaper=a Spor |title=Beşiktaş Kadın Futbol Takımı Nijeryalı Vivian Ikechukwu'yu transfer ettiğini duyurdu! |date=26 January 2023 |language=tr |accessdate=11 February 2024 }}

{{cite news |url=https://www.pulsesports.ug/football/story/nigeria-striker-vivian-ikechukwu-joins-besiktas-2023012616592273087 |newspaper=Pulse Sport |title=TRANSFERS Nigeria striker Vivian Ikechukwu joins Besiktas |author=Abdulsalam, Hassan |date=26 January 2023 |accessdate=11 February 2024 }}

{{cite news |url=https://www.busybuddiesng.com/cafwcl-rivers-angels-star-vivian-ikechukwu-reflects-on-historic-competition-audio/ |newspaper=Busy Buddies |title=CAFWCL: Rivers Angels Sta Vivian Ikechukwu Reflects On Historic Competition (AUDIO) By |date=17 December 2021 |accessdate=11 February 2024 }}

{{cite news |url=https://africawomensfootball.wordpress.com/2017/03/23/vivian-ikechukwus-brace-helps-abia-angels-defeat-rivers-angels-in-friendly/ |newspaper=African Women's Football |title=Vivian Ikechukwu's brace helps Abia Angels defeat Rivers Angels in friendly |date=23 March 2017 |accessdate=11 February 2024 }}

{{cite news |url=https://platinumreports.wordpress.com/tag/vivian/ |newspaper=Platinum Reports |title=NWFL Premiership 2022 Osahon, Ikechukwu Named Manager, Coach Of The Month Of February. |date=21 March 2022 |accessdate=11 February 2024 }}

{{cite news |url=https://tobexmedia.com/super-falcons-glory-ogbonna-and-vivian-ikechukwu-face-narrow-loss-in-turkcell-womens-football-super-league-encounter/ |newspaper=ToBeXMediaServices |title=Super Falcons' Glory Ogbonna and Vivian Ikechukwu Face Narrow Loss in Turkcell Women's Football Super League Encounter |date=21 November 2023 |accessdate=11 February 2024 }}

{{cite news |url=https://sportsdayonline.com/i-always-go-for-the-best-vivian-ikechukwu-reacts-after-joining-wfc-gintra/ |newspaper=Sportsday Online |title=I Always Go For The Best Vivian Ikechukwu Reacts After Joining WFC GINTRA |author=Onwugbolu, Bibian |date=24 March 2024 |accessdate=12 February 2024}}

{{cite news |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/rivers-angels-ikechukwu-reveals-caf-champions-league-dream-after-nwpl-super-six-success/1d4bw1valxmpb1t75br4ue74xx |newspaper=Goal |title=Rivers Angels' Ikechukwu reveals Caf Champions League dream after NWPL Super Six success |author=Ahmadu, Samuel |date=28 April 2021 |accessdate=12 February 2024}}

}}