Christian Udubuesi Obodo (born 11 May 1984 in Warri, Nigeria) is a Nigerian former footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.
Club career He was plucked from relative obscurity in the Nigerian league, playing for Plateau United to Italy where he became one of the hottest properties in the Italian Serie A where he had a brilliant season at Perugia. He scored his first ever Serie A goal in a 2–2 draw against Inter Milan at the end of the season 2003.
Fiorentina signed him as a key part of their renovation as the team came back to Serie A in 2004. They only bought half the registration rights and in 2005 La Viola and Perugia were forced to make a blind auction to decide his future. Perugia won the auction but immediately sold him to Udinese.
Obodo played his first UEFA Champions League with Le zebrette in 2005–06 season, partnered in midfield with Sulley Muntari, up until Muntari's exit for Portsmouth F.C. in 2007.
On 28 January 2014, the Portuguese side S.C. Olhanense announced they had agreed to a deal with Obodo after playing in a training game against Lokomotiv Moscow.
International career In 2001, Obodo played for the Flying Eagles coached by Stephen Keshi at the African Youth Championship in Ethiopia. Though the team crashed out of the tournament with just one point from 3 games, Obodo showed a lot of promise in a team that had other players such as Bartholomew Ogbeche and Justice Christopher.
Obodo exudes a high level of confidence in games. He is never shy of taking on opponents. Renowned for his dribbling, energetic play and surging runs, he is best when he plays through the centre of the pitch where he dribbles and often makes surging runs towards goal.
He made his long-awaited debut for the Super Eagles in the LG Cup tournament in 2003 featuring in the games versus Ghana and Cameroon. He also made a substitute appearance in the prestigious Brazil friendly, playing as a striker. He has also appeared in Nigeria's 4–1 win over Malawi in an ANC 2004 qualifier. Obodo scored his first goal in a 5–2 win at Algeria.
He made six appearances out of 10 in the 2006 World Cup qualification series, scoring a goal. At the 2006 African Cup of Nations, he featured in 4 of Nigeria's six games, scoring in the 2–0 win over Zimbabwe. Obodo last played for the Super Eagles in 2008.
Abduction On the morning of 9 June 2012, Obodo was reportedly kidnapped by gunmen near Warri, Delta State. He was rescued the next day in nearby Isoko by men of the Nigerian police force, no ransom was paid, and suspects were arrested.
Career statistics Club Club performance League Cup Continental Total Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps GoalsItaly League Coppa Italia Europe Total2001–02PerugiaSerie A1000-102002–0330150003512003–04310511004612004–05FiorentinaSerie A33260-3922005–06UdineseSerie A281111204122006–0730531-3362007–081030-402008–0918000812612009–10100000102010–11TorinoSerie B16111-1722011–12LecceSerie A20010-210 Country Italy1891124330124315Total1891124330124315
International
Nigeria national teamYearAppsGoals200330200450200531200652200720200831Total214
International goals # Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 4 September 2005 Oran, Algeria 5–2 Won 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification 27 January 2006 Port Said, Egypt 2–0 Won 2006 Africa Cup of Nations 2 September 2006 Abuja, Nigeria 2–0 Won 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification 11 October 2008 Abuja, Nigeria 4–1 Won 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
Honours Perugia UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2003
References
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