Rabiu Afolabi

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Rabiu Afolabi
Personal information
Full name Rabiu Afolabi
Date of birth April 18, 1980 (1980-04-18) (age 28)
Place of birth    Osogbo, Nigeria
Height 1.84 m (6 ft +1⁄2 in)
Playing position Defender
Club information
Current club FC Sochaux
Number 2
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1997
1997-2000
2000-2001
2001-2003
2003-2005
2005-present		 NEPA Lagos
Standard Liège
SSC Napoli
Standard Liège
Austria Vienna
FC Sochaux
53 (2)
0 (0)
36 (0)
60 (1)
93 (3)
   
National team2
2000- Nigeria 10 (1)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 18:48, 9 June 2008 (UTC).
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of February 15, 2006.
* Appearances (Goals)

Rabiu Afolabi (born 18 April 1980 in Osogbo, Nigeria) is a Nigerian soccer player. His name, Afolabi, means "Born into wealth".[1] He is a strong and lanky central defender, who is good aerially and has a thunderous shot. He is also very versatile and can play as a fullback or defensive midfielder as well. Dangerous on set pieces.

He left his home country for Belgian outfit Standard Liège after impressing at the 1997 edition of the Meridian Cup.

Played a vital role for Nigeria in the 1999 African Youth Championship, coming from defence to score the two goals against Cameroon in the semi-final. Nigeria eventually finished second in the tournament after losing 0-1 to the hosts, Ghana, in the final. He then captained the Nigerian U-20 team in the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship in Nigeria.

He made his full international debut in a 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Sierra Leone, in June 17, 2000.

He signed for Italian Serie A side SSC Napoli ahead of the 2000-2001 season, but failed to break into the first team, and went back to Belgium before the season was over.

He plays for Nigeria national football team and was a participant at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Meaning of Afolabi in Nigerian.name

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Nigeria squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup
1 Shorunmu • 2 Yobo • 3 Babayaro • 4 Kanu • 5 Okoronkwo • 6 West • 7 Ikedia • 8 Adepoju • 9 Ogbeche • 10 Okocha • 11 Lawal • 12 Ejide • 13 Afolabi • 14 Udeze • 15 Justice • 16 Sodje • 17 Aghahowa • 18 Akwuegbu • 19 Ejiofor • 20 Obiorah • 21 Utaka • 22 Enyeama • 23 Opabunmi • Coach: Onigbinde
 Flag of Nigeria
v • d • e
FC Sochaux-Montbéliard – current squad

1 Gavanon • 2 Afolabi • 3 Pancrate • 4 Grax • 5 Dramé • 6 Dalmat • 7 Pitau • 8 N'Daw • 9 Dagano • 12 Isabey • 13 Bréchet • 14 Jokić • 15 Vargas • 16 Richert • 17 Josse • 18 Mathis • 19 Sène • 20 Birsa • 21 Maurice-Belay • 23 El Bounadi • 24 Perquis • 25 Traoré • 26 Erding • 27 Daf • 28 Pichot • 29 Nogueira • 30 Dreyer • Manager: Gillot
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