Victor Ikpeba

Career

Ikpeba was discovered by Belgian club RFC Liège during the 1989 FIFA U-17 World Championship, and moved to play in Belgium together with teammate Sunday Oliseh. At the age of 20 and after scoring 17 goals in 1992–93, Ikpeba was bought by Monégasque side AS Monaco, then coached by Arsène Wenger. At Monaco, he gradually became a success, albeit with a tough start. He showed outstanding form subsequent to the 1996 Olympics, scoring 13 league goals to help Monaco win the league title, and also finishing as the second-top goalscorer in the 1996–97 UEFA Cup. His performances earned him the African Footballer of the Year award in 1997. Two successful seasons followed. While at Monaco, Ikpeba nearly signed for Italian club Reggina. But his wife, unwilling to give up life in Monaco, locked him in their house on the day he was to sign his contract. Ikpeba played in Jean Tigana's talented Monaco side which famously put Manchester United out of the Champions League in 1998 on away goals after a 1–1 draw at Old Trafford.

Ikpeba again teamed up with Sunday Oliseh at Borussia Dortmund in 1999, for a transfer fee of £4.8 million. Ikpeba scored only two goals in his first season in the Bundesliga and barely played in his second, after falling out with the coach Matthias Sammer. Looking for a move abroad, Ikpeba turned down Southampton to join Real Betis on a season-long loan. Things went further downhill for the player in Spain as he was criticised for being overweight by the coach, after making just one appearance for the club. He didn't feature for Betis again up until the last two games of the season.

Ikpeba then signed a season-long contract with Libyan outfit Al-Ittihad Tripoli, but only played out half of his contract with the club, as he quit the team over financial disagreements. After leaving Libya and spending almost a year without a club, Ikpeba returned to Belgium, where he joined his former Liège coach at Charleroi. After helping the club avoid relegation, Ikpeba came very close to signing with German side SC Freiburg, but the deal fell through when it was revealed that the player had no EU passport. Ikpeba then had a short spell at Al Sadd in Qatar, before retiring from professional football.

Style of play

In spite of his small physique, Ikpeba was a fast, versatile, and opportunistic forward, who was capable of playing as a striker, as a second striker, or on either wing, and was known for his ability to score from any position on the pitch.

Personal life

Ikpeba now lives in Lagos, and he co-hosts Monday Night Football on Supersport. His wife Atinuke died in May 2000 at the age of 26, after losing her battle with breast cancer.

Honours

RFC Liège

• Belgian Cup: 1989–90

Monaco

• Ligue 1: 1996–97
• Trophée des Champions: 1997

Al-Ittihad

• Libyan Premier League: 2002–03

Nigeria

• Africa Cup of Nations: 1994
• Olympic Games: 1996

Individual

• Ebony Shoe Award: 1993
• African Footballer of the Year: 1997

References

References

1. (5 March 2008). "Footballers whose loved ones have told them who to play for". The Guardian.
2. (19 March 1998). "Monaco and bust for sorry United". The Independent.
3. (9 August 2001). "Ikpeba rejects Saints for Betis". BBC Sport.
4. "Ikpeba thrilled with move".
5. "Ikpeba joins German club".
6. http://www.kickoffnigeria.com/stories/story4838.html{{Dead link. (February 2012)
7. "Le stelle di Francia 98: da Pep Guardiola a Jugovic". SoloCalcio.com.
8. Inyang, Ifreke. (2013-03-10). "If money could buy health, my wife would be alive — Victor Ikpeba".