Ifeanyi Innocenti Emeghara (born March 24, 1984 in Lagos) is a Nigerian football player. "Ifeanyi" is a nickname for the Igbo name "Ifeanyichukwu" (meaning "Nothing is impossible with God").^[1] The young and versatile defender can be seen on both sides of the pitch and is often remarked due to his good technique. Since June 2007 he is under contract with Steaua Bucureşti.

Amongst his childhood friends and teammates are the likes of Obafemi Martins and Stephen Makinwa.

[edit] Club career

[edit] FK Partizan Beograd

He played for FK Partizan Beograd in the Serbian Superliga for 2 years gaining 36 appearances. With Partizan, he made the Round of 32 in the UEFA Cup where the club lost out to the eventual champions, CSKA Moscow.

[edit] FCU Politehnica Timişoara

Emeghara signed for $650.000 with FCU Politehnica Timisoara in 2006 a contract for 4 years. He was under the observation of many important clubs, such as AJ Auxerre and CSKA Moscow, but he eventually chose FCU Politehnica Timisoara.

In January 2007 he suffered a surgery on his left forearm, after he broke his arm while he was in Nigeria on holiday. The operation was a success he went back to training in the next 3 weeks. Marian Iancu, FCU Politehnica Timisoara's owner, declared that Steaua Bucureşti, Dinamo Bucuresti and Rapid Bucuresti have shown interest in Ifeanyi Emeghara.

Emeghara had a salary of 135.000 euros per year. He was the second most used player in the 2006-2007 season in Liga I playing 42 matches and a total of 2.491 minutes, after Jonathan McKain with 2.610 minutes.

[edit] Steaua Bucureşti

On 25 July 2007 Emeghara signed with Steaua Bucureşti for 4 years.^[2] The transfer fee was of €1.2 million and he was given a salary of €150.000 per season plus bonuses if Steaua Bucureşti will qualify in the Uefa Champions League group stage. While at Steaua Bucureşti, Emeghara had some cardiac problems. Steaua Bucureşti's medical staff discovered a heart problem and the player had stop all physical efforts.

Gigi Becali, Steaua Bucureşti's owner, said that if Emeghara will end his football career because of this medical issue he will get from FCU Politehnica Timişoara €600.000, half of the transfer fee. Marian Iancu said that he didn't show any medical problems while he was playing for FCU Politehnica Timişoara. The medical staff announced that Emeghara has a larger heart than an average human, but it is said that most African football players have larger hearts and that Ifeanyi will still be playing football at the highest level.

Emeghara debuted for Steaua Bucureşti against Rapid Bucuresti, match ended undecided 0-0. He previously played for Steaua Bucureşti in a friendly against R. Charleroi S.C. which also ended with a draw (1-1). Emeghara didn't play any match since March 8, 2008, because of a knee injury. In October 2009 has returned to training and on 11 October played his first game after injury in the friendly match with FC Snagov, Steaua won 3-0.^[3]

Emeghara, which evolved first in an official game after more than a year and a half absence.

He evolved first in an official game after more than a year and a half absence on 13 December 2009 against Internaţional, coming on in the 46^th minute to replace Eugen Baciu.^[4]

[edit] Position

The young and versatile defender can be seen on both sides of the pitch and is often remarked due to his good technique.

[edit] Transfer Offers

After his match against Seville on 7 November 2007, the Spanish team has shown interest in Emeghara. He was one of the best players from Steaua Bucureşti in both home and away games against Seville. Ramon Rodriguez Verdejo, Seville's scouter, will be further monitoring Emeghara. The manager of Olympique Lyonnais, Alain Perrin, said that the team need's another left-back since he's not pleased by Fabio Grosso's performances. Aurel Damian, Emeghara's manager said that he won't present any offers to Gigi Becali until the winter transfer market. At the end of 2007, Emeghara had 15 official games for Steaua. According to this statistic made by Steaua supporters he was one of the best players of the season, with an average of 7.89/10.

[edit] International career

Emeghara was called up to the Nigerian national football team before the 2006 African Cup of Nations as a prospective player for the famed tournament, but decided not to take part in these preparations, as he had just signed for Poli and didn't want to miss the pre-season training with this new team.

In August 2006 Victor Piturca wanted Emeghara to play for the Romanian national football team as a left-back. Emeghara refused the offer because he wanted to play for the Nigerian national football team. He was called again in November 2007 to the Nigerian national football team by manager Berti Vogts. He will be replacing Taye Taiwo from Olympic Marseille who due to his average performance didn't take part of the manager's plans against Australia and Switzerland. Emeghara made his international debut on 17 November 2007 for Nigeria in the loss against Australia with 0-1. He was a member of Nigeria's 23-man squad to the 2008 African Cup of Nations.

[edit] Titles

Season	Club	Title
2004–05	FK Partizan	Serbian Superliga

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Ifeanyi Emeghara's profile - SteauaFC.com (Romanian)
• Ifeanyi Emeghara's career - RomanianSoccer.ro
• Ifeanyi Emeghara's Steaua career - FCSteaua.ro (Romanian)
• Profile on National-Football-Teams.com

v • d • e Nigeria squad – 2008 Africa Cup of Nations 1 Enyeama • 2 Yobo • 3 Taiwo • 4 Kanu • 5 Nwaneri • 6 Shittu • 7 Utaka • 8 Yakubu • 9 Martins • 10 Mikel • 11 Odemwingie • 12 Ejide • 13 Afolabi • 14 Olofinjana • 15 Uche • 16 Etuhu • 17 Makinwa • 18 Obinna • 19 Emeghara • 20 Okonkwo • 21 Eromoigbe • 22 Apam • 23 Aiyenugba • Coach: Vogts

Romanian football portal