Sikiru Olatunbosun

Sikiru Olatunbosun is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a striker for Turkish club Ankaraspor.

Sikiru Olatunbosun
Personal information
Full name Sikiru Olatunbosun
Place of birth Lagos, Nigeria
Position(s) Striker
Club information
Current team
 Ankaraspor
Number 12
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2018 MFM F.C.
2018–2019 Plateau United 2
2019– Menemenspor 20 (1)
National team‡
2017– Nigeria 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17 July 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 30 June 2020

Career

2016 season

On 15 June 2016, Olatunbosun scored a brace against Nasarawa United at the Agege Stadium which earned him praise.[1] In August 2016 Olatunbosun scored another brace as MFM beat Akwa United 3–0.[2] Olatunbosun latter claimed that he knew he was going to score a brace against Akwa United because the match was on his birthday and he felt he had been empowered by God.[3] Olatunbosun finished the season with 7 goals.[4]

2017 season

In the first match of the 2017 season Olatunbosun scored his team's first goal of the season against Niger Tornadoes at the Agege stadium in an eventual 3–0 win. Afterwards Olatunbosun stated that he would be targeting the season's top scorer award.[4]

Goal against Enugu Rangers

On 24 February 2017 in a match against defending champions Enugu Rangers Olatunbosun took down a back-heel flick from teammate Stephen Odey and then improvised with a flick of his own over with his right foot over Rangers defender Emmanuel Etim and although off balance managed to hit an unstoppable left-footed volley into the top corner.[5] The match ended with MFM prevailing 2–1 but Olatunbosun's goal gained widespread attention over the internet and was nominated for the CNN goal of the week award.[5] Only one Nigerian (Kelechi Iheanacho) had ever won the award before for a goal in an international match against Tanzania and no Nigerian Premier League player had ever even been nominated for the award.[6] On 4 March, it was announced that Olatunbosun's goal had indeed won the CNN award gathering more than 80 percent of the vote.[7] Afterwards, Olatunbosun's strike was also widely totted as worthy of the Puskas Award[8] and mentions of it were published in Spanish, Brazilian, French, Italian, and British newspapers.[9] Olatunbosun said afterwards that the goal was because of the grace of God, adding that he hoped that MFM F.C. would qualify for Africa's continental championship at the end of the season.[10]

Plateau United

In December 2018, Olatunbosun joined Plateau United.[11]

Menemenspor

On 21 August 2019, Olatunbosun joined Turkish club Menemenspor on a two-year contract.[12]

International career

Olatunbosun was called up as part of a Nigeria XI for the 2014 Expo Unity World Cup, where he scored two goals in the final, a 7-0 thrashing of a Colombia XI.[13] He first represented the full Nigeria national football team in June 2017, coming on as a sub in a friendly against Togo.[14]

Personal life

Olatunbosun was born in Lagos.[15] In his youth Olatunbosun was also a talented baseball player and was part of the local team at Finbas College. He played in baseball tournaments in Burkina Faso and other African countries as well as the national tournament in Abuja before permanently switching to football.[16]

References
  1. "WATCH: Olatunbosun Sikiru notches sweet brace for MFM against Nasarawa". Goal.com (Nigeria). 15 June 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  2. Tomiwa Babalola (18 August 2016). "MFM's Olatunbosun targets NPFL top scorer award". Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  3. Tomiwa Babalola (18 August 2016). "I Told My Colleagues I Will Score Two Goals Against Akwa United-Sikiru Olatunbosun". Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  4. "MFM's Olatunbosun targets NPFL top scorer award". Goal.com (Nigeria). 17 January 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  5. Udoh, Colin (28 February 2017). "Sikiru Olatunbosun almost breaks the internet with stunning goal for MFM FC". ESPN FC. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  6. "See Video Of Olatubosun's Spectacular Goal For MFM FC In Line For CNN Goal Of The Week". owngoalnigeria.com. Own Goal Nigeria. 25 February 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  7. Inyang, Ifreke (4 March 2017). "Olatunbosun's volley against Rangers voted CNN Goal of the Week". Daily Post. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  8. Bristow, Thomas (28 February 2017). "Ridiculous team goal and finish from Nigerian Premier League could be early contender for 2017 Puskas Award". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  9. Adewuyi, Lolade (2 March 2017). "Sikiru Olatunbosun and the NPFL shot heard round the world: The MFM FC striker has become an internet sensation, just what the domestic league needs to promote itself as a veritable entertainment for Nigerians". Goal.com (Nigeria). Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  10. Ifetoye, Samuel (28 February 2017). "MFM's target is to play in Africa, says Olatunbosun". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  11. "Olatunbosun Seeks Fresh Start With Plateau United". Complete Sports. 13 December 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  12. https://twitter.com/MenemenspoResmi/status/1164205325353979905
  13. "Fixtures & Results". Kolkata Football. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  14. http://www.skysports.com/football/nigeria-vs-togo/371810
  15. "Sikiru Olatunbosun: 6 years ago MFM FC star was playing baseball, now Puskas is in sight". Pulse Sports/Football. All News Nigeria. 6 May 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  16. Steve Dede (7 May 2017). "6 years ago MFM FC star was playing baseball, now Puskas is in sight: Sikiru played Baseball as a kid before taking up football which has taken his name all over the world courtesy of a fantastic goal he scored". pulse.ng. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
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