Taiwo Awoniyi

Taiwo Awoniyi
Personal information
Full name Taiwo Awoniyi Micheal
Date of birth (1997-08-12) 12 August 1997
Place of birth Ilorin, Nigeria
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position Forward
Club information
Current team
NEC
(on loan from Liverpool)
Number 9
Youth career
2010–2015 Imperial Soccer Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015– Liverpool 0 (0)
2015–2016FSV Frankfurt (loan) 13 (1)
2016–NEC (loan) 8 (0)
National team
2013 Nigeria U17 8 (4)
2015 Nigeria U20 9 (7)
2015– Nigeria U23 3 (2)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 November 2016.

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 7 September 2015

Taiwo Awoniyi Micheal (born August 12, 1997) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for the Dutch Side NEC on loan from Premier League club Liverpool. Taiwo's style of play has been compared to that of Rashidi Yekini, Nigeria's all-time highest goalscorer.[1]

Club career

Early career

In 2010, Taiwo was voted the Most Valuable Player at a Coca-Cola football competition in London. His performance at the competition was spotted by Seyi Olofinjana who made him join Imperial Soccer Academy.[2]

Liverpool

On 31 August 2015, Taiwo signed for Liverpool F.C. for a fee of around £400,000 but was immediately loaned out to FSV Frankfurt.[3][4]

Loan to FSV Frankfurt

He made his debut for the club as a late substitute in a German Cup match against Hertha Berlin. After being named as a substitute for six league matches, he made his debut on 19 February 2016, playing 89 minutes against FC St. Pauli.[5]

Loan to NEC

On 26 August 2016, NEC confirmed that he had joined them on a season-long loan and was expected to join the squad the following week after the formalities of his work permit were completed.[6] On 10 September, he made his first competitive debut in the Eredivisie after a 40 defeat of NEC to PSV Eindhoven. He was however replaced in the 72nd minute by Michael Heinloth.[7]

International career

Taiwo represented Nigeria at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup and went on to win the tournament, scoring four goals during the competition.[8] He also represented Nigeria at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand after winning the 2015 African U-20 Championship in Senegal.[9]

On 12 April 2015, he scored a brace on his debut for the Nigeria U-23 team in a match against Zambia, as his team went on to qualify for the 2015 All African Games.[10]

He was selected by Nigeria for their 35-man provisional squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics.[11]

Career statistics

As of match played 5 November 2016
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Liverpool 2015–16 Premier League 0000000000
FSV Frankfurt (loan) 2015–16 2. Bundesliga 13110141
N.E.C. (loan) 2016–17 Eredivisie 801090
Career total 211200000221

Honours

International

Recognitions

In recognition for his performance at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup competition, Taiwo along with his team-mates were bestowed with the Member of the Order of the Niger award.[12] It was also reported in the media that there were plans by the Kwara State House of Assembly to name a major street after him.[13]

References

  1. Solace Chukwu (14 March 2015). "TAIWO AWONIYI: THE YOUNGSTER LOOKING TO FILL RASHIDI YEKINI'S BIG VOID". Goal.com. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  2. "I beat Taiwo Awoniyi to discourage him from football – Dad". Vanguard. 10 November 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  3. James Carrol (31 August 2015). "Reds complete signing of Taiwo Awoniyi". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  4. Press Association (31 August 2015). "Liverpool sign 18-year-old Nigeria forward Taiwo Awoniyi". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  5. "Liverpool's Awoniyi makes League Debut In Germany". Soccernet. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  6. "NEC hires striker Taiwo Awoniyi". NEC. 26 August 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  7. Johnny Edward (10 September 2016). "Nwakaeme Hits Hat-trick, Enyeama Concedes Four, Awoniyi Makes NEC Debut". Nigerian Nation. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  8. "Taiwo Awoniyi: The New Bride of European Clubs". Thisday. 27 June 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  9. "Nigeria set sights on daring double". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  10. George Akpayen (12 April 2015). "Awoniyi brace catapults Nigeria U23". SuperSports. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  11. Oluwashina Okeleji (24 June 2016). "Kelechi Iheanacho included in Nigeria's Olympics squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  12. "Awoniyi Overjoyed With MON Award". SL10. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  13. Demola Akinyemi (11 March 2014). "Kwara to name street after Taiwo Awoniyi". Vanguard. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
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