Anthony Nwakaeme
Nigerian footballer (born 1989)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Anthony Nnaduzor "Tony" Nwakaemeⓘ (born 21 March 1989) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a left winger.[2]
|
Nwakaeme with Hapoel Be'er Sheva in 2015 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Anthony Nnaduzor Nwakaeme[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 21 March 1989 | ||
| Place of birth | Lagos, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position | Left winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2009 | Vejle Football Academy | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010–2012 | Universitatea Cluj | 37 | (8) |
| 2010–2011 | → Arieșul Turda | 8 | (5) |
| 2012–2013 | Petrolul Ploiești | 3 | (0) |
| 2013–2013 | Universitatea Cluj | 10 | (2) |
| 2013–2015 | Hapoel Ra'anana | 55 | (13) |
| 2015–2018 | Hapoel Be'er Sheva | 95 | (35) |
| 2018–2022 | Trabzonspor | 120 | (41) |
| 2022–2024 | Al-Fayha | 45 | (13) |
| 2024–2026 | Trabzonspor | 35 | (1) |
| International career | |||
| 2017 | Nigeria | 1 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 00:23, 21 May 2026 (UTC) | |||
Club career
In 2008, Tony played for Kristianstad BoIS, a lower division team. He didn’t get signed by Kristianstad. He also stayed with his trainer at his home, who helped him when he got sick.
Arieșul Turda
Anthony Nwakaeme began his career in 2010 at Romanian club Arieșul Turda of the Second Division, on loan from Universitatea Cluj. He played eight games and scored five goals.
Universitatea Cluj
In January 2011, he returned to Universitatea Cluj and his most productive season came in 2011–12, when he appeared in 28 matches and scored seven goals.
Petrolul Ploiești
In the 2012–13 season, he spent the first half at Petrolul Ploiești, playing just three matches.
Return to Universitatea Cluj
In February 2013, he returned to Universitatea Cluj and appeared in ten matches and scored two goals.
Hapoel Ra'anana
On 13 August 2013, Nwakaeme signed for Hapoel Ra'anana. On 31 August, he scored a goal on his Israeli Premier League debut, a 1–1 draw against Hapoel Haifa.[3]
Hapoel Be'er Sheva
On 24 June 2015, Nwakaeme signed to Hapoel Be'er Sheva. On 3 October 2015, he scored his debut goal for Be'er Sheva. This goal was also the debut goal in Turner Stadium.[4]
Nwakaeme won the Israeli Premier League best player trophy in 2017.
Along with Nigerian midfielder John Ogu and Israeli strikers Ben Sahar and Elyaniv Barda, he led Hapoel Be'er Sheva to a historical series of three Israeli championship titles in a row in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Trabzonspor
In August 2018, Nwakaeme joined Turkish Süper Lig side Trabzonspor.[5]
International career
On 10 November 2017, he made his debut for Nigeria national team against Algeria in 1–1 draw counting for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.[6][7]
In April 2019, he said he deserved to make a further appearance for Nigeria.[8]
Personal life
Anthony Nwakaeme is the younger brother of professional footballer Dickson Nwakaeme.[9][10]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Arieșul Turda | 2010–11 | Liga II | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 8 | 5 | |||
| Universitatea Cluj | 2010–11 | Liga I | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 9 | 1 | |||
| 2011–12 | 28 | 7 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | 29 | 7 | |||||
| 2012–13 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 11 | 2 | |||||
| Total | 47 | 10 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | 48 | 10 | |||||
| Petrolul Ploiești | 2012–13 | Liga I | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | 4 | 0 | |||
| Hapoel Ra'anana | 2013–14 | Israeli Premier League | 30 | 6 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | 32 | 6 | |||
| 2014–15 | 25 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | – | 30 | 7 | ||||
| Total | 55 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | – | 62 | 13 | ||||
| Hapoel Be'er Sheva | 2015–16 | Israeli Premier League | 34 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | – | 46 | 13 | |
| 2016–17 | 33 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 13[d] | 2 | 1[e] | 1 | 49 | 19 | ||
| 2017–18 | 28 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 11[f] | 5 | 1[e] | 1 | 45 | 17 | ||
| 2018–19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4[g] | 1 | 1[e] | 0 | 5 | 1 | ||
| Total | 95 | 35 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 30 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 145 | 50 | ||
| Trabzonspor | 2018–19 | Süper Lig | 27 | 10 | 4 | 1 | – | – | – | 31 | 11 | |||
| 2019–20 | 29 | 11 | 6 | 2 | – | 8[c] | 1 | – | 43 | 14 | ||||
| 2020–21 | 34 | 7 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 1[h] | 0 | 36 | 7 | ||||
| 2021–22 | 30 | 13 | 2 | 1 | – | 4[i] | 1 | – | 36 | 15 | ||||
| Total | 120 | 41 | 13 | 4 | – | 12 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 146 | 47 | |||
| Al-Fayha | 2022–23 | Saudi Pro League | 25 | 9 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 1[j] | 0 | 28 | 9 | ||
| 2023–24 | 20 | 4 | 2 | 0 | – | 3[k] | 2 | – | 25 | 6 | ||||
| Total | 45 | 13 | 4 | 0 | – | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 53 | 15 | |||
| Trabzonspor | 2024–25 | Süper Lig | 11 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 12 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 377 | 117 | 31 | 7 | 12 | 2 | 45 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 470 | 140 | ||
- Includes Cupa României, Israel State Cup, Turkish Cup, King's Cup
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, seven appearances and two goals in UEFA Europa League
- Appearance in Israel Super Cup
- Six appearances and four goals in UEFA Champions League, five appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
- Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
- Appearance in Turkish Super Cup
- Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
- Appearance in Saudi Super Cup
- Appearances in AFC Champions League