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Sports News of Tuesday, 5 January 2021

Source: www.mynigeria.com

NFF celebrates ex-Eagles striker Ikechukwu Uche at 37

Ikechukuwu Uche playing for the Eagles play videoIkechukuwu Uche playing for the Eagles

The Nigeria Football Federation has celebrated former Super Eagles striker Ikechukuwu Uche as he marked his 37th birthday.

The message was sent by the NFF via its official Twitter handle.

“Happy birthday, former @NGSuperEagles forward @ikeuche9.”

Uche was one of the most dependable strikers in his time, he scored 19 goals in 46 appearances before he retired from international football in 2014.

He made his debut in 2007.

During his time with the Eagles, he was a member of the squad that won the 2013 AFCON in South Africa, Today.ng reports.

Born in Aba, Abia State, Uche’s career began in Nigeria with Amanze United and Iwuanyanwu Nationale.

Aged just 18, he moved to Racing de Ferrol in the Spanish second division, appearing in 24 games in his second season, which ended in relegation for the Galician team.

Uche then joined another club in the country’s second level, Recreativo de Huelva, for a fee of $300,000, and scored 12 goals in his first year, becoming the league’s top scorer in the 2005–06 campaign at 20 in just 28 appearances (with five braces), as the Andalusians returned – as champions – to La Liga after a three-year absence.

In his first top flight season, Uche scored on eight occasions. Notably, he netted in three consecutive matches in November 2006 (with wins at RC Celta de Vigo and against CA Osasuna), helping his team finish eight, according to Today.ng.

Uche joined Getafe CF for 2007–08, mainly being used as a substitute. On 29 November 2008, also from the bench, he scored in a 3–1 home victory over Real Madrid.