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Taye Taiwo
Personal information
Full name	Taye Ismaila Taïwo
Date of birth	April 16, 1985 (1985-04-16) (age 24)
Place of birth	Lagos, Nigeria
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Left Back
Club information
Current club	Marseille
Number	3
Senior career1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2003 2003–2004 2004–	Gabros International Lobi Stars Marseille	011 0(1) 037 0(8) 139 (10)
National team2
2004–	Nigeria	026 0(7)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of September 19, 2009. 2 National team caps and goals correct as of August 28, 2006. * Appearances (Goals)

Taye Ismaila Taïwo (born April 16, 1985 in Lagos, Nigeria) is a Nigerian football defender who currently plays for Olympique de Marseille. Taiwo's primary position is left back.

[edit] Club career

[edit] Olympique de Marseille

Taiwo was brought in to fill the void Bixente Lizarazu had left when he departed for Bayern Munich.

[edit] National career

Taiwo was part of the Nigerian team during the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. He scored two goals during the competition which enabled Nigeria to reach the final (lost 2-1 against Argentina). He was designated as the third best player of the tournament behind Nigeria's John Obi Mikel and Argentina's Lionel Messi.

Taiwo played in the 2006 African Cup of Nations in Egypt, as well as the 2008 African Cup of Nations in Ghana.

[edit] Awards

Taiwo was the 2006 Young African Player of the Year. ^[1]

[edit] References

1. ^ "Drogba wins African player award". BBC News. 1 March 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/6408697.stm. Retrieved 26 August 2009. 

[edit] External links

• http://www.om.net/en/Teams/201002/Effectif_pro/1514/TAIWO
• http://www.om.net/en/Saison/101002/Infos/34175/A_winning_return_for_Taiwo
• http://france.theoffside.com/french-football/meet-africas-best-young-star-taye-taiwo.html

Nigeria Squads v • d • e Nigeria squad – 2006 Africa Cup of Nations 1 Enyeama • 2 Yobo • 3 Taiwo • 4 Kanu • 5 Odiah • 6 Enakarhire • 7 Utaka • 8 Mikel • 9 Martins • 10 Okocha • 11 Lawal • 12 Ejide • 13 Yussuf • 14 Obinna • 15 Obiefule • 16 Oruma • 17 Aghahowa • 18 Obodo • 19 Makinwa • 20 Odemwingie • 21 Nwaneri • 22 Kaita • 23 Aiyenugba • Coach: Eguavoen 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