Emeka Opara
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 2 December 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Imo State, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Free Agent | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2001–2003 | Enugu Rangers | ||
| 2004–2006 | Étoile Sportive du Sahel | 40 | (21) |
| 2007–2008 | 1. FC Kaiserslautern | 23 | (13) |
| 2008–2009 | Étoile Sportive du Sahel | 21 | (11) |
| 2009–2011 | Khazar Lankaran | 42 | (10) |
| 2012 | Al Naser | 19 | (11) |
| 2013 | Qarabağ | 10 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 June 2013. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Emeka Opara (born 2 December 1984 in Imo State) is a Nigerian football striker. He is a classic Centre-Forward with pace and very strong in the air. He most recently played for the Azerbaijan Premier League side Qarabağ.
Career
In 2006, he had an impressive run of form in the CAF Confederation Cup while playing for Tunisian club Étoile Sportive du Sahel, taking them to the final of the competition, whilst netting eight goals.[1]
In December 2006, after his contract expired with Étoile du Sahel, Opara signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with 2. Bundesliga side Kaiserslautern.[2] Opara returned to Étoile du Sahel during the summer of 2008, scoring on his return against Asante Kotoko.[3]
In 2010, he signed a ten-month contract with Azerbaijan Premier League team FK Khazar Lankaran.[4]
In January 2012, he signed a contract with Al Naser in Kuwait.[5]
In January 2013, Opara returned to the Azerbaijan Premier League signing a short term contract with Qarabağ.[6] At the end of the 2012–13 season, Opara was released after 2 goals in 12 appearances in all competitions.[7]
Career statistics
| Club performance | League | Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Azerbaijan | League | Azerbaijan Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
| 2009-10[8] | Khazar Lankaran[9] | Azerbaijan Premier League | 14 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | 17 | 5 | |
| 2010-11[10] | 16 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 3 | ||
| 2011-12[11] | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 3 | ||
| 2012–13[12] | Qarabağ | 10 | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | 12 | 2 | ||
| Total | Azerbaijan | 52 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 65 | 13 | |
| Career total | 52 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 65 | 13 | ||
References
- ↑ "Opara targets Africa and Europe". BBC Sport. 21 November 2006. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- ↑ "Opara moves to Kaiserslautern". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
- ↑ "Etoile in good Confed Cup start". BBC Sport. 16 August 2008. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- ↑ "Denis Calincov became the best, without even playing". moldova.sports.md. 17 April 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- ↑ "Emeka Opara snubs N130m Al Masry deal". The Nation. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
- ↑ "Official: Emeka Opara Joins Qarabag". allnigeriasoccer.com. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
- ↑ "Qarabağ altı futbolçusu ilə yollarını ayırdı" [Six players parted ways with Karabakh] (in Azerbaijani). azerisport.com. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
- ↑ "09/10 Season" (PDF). pfl.az. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ↑ "Statistics: Players". http://lankaranfc.com/az/. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ↑ "10/11 Season" (PDF). pfl.az. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ↑ "11/12 Season" (PDF). pfl.az. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ↑ "Premier League Stats 2012/13" (PDF). http://www.pfl.az/. Retrieved 13 July 2013.