Theophilus Afelokhai
Personal information
Full name Joel Theophilus Afelokhai
Date of birth (1988-04-07) 7 April 1988
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
-2015 Kano Pillars
2015-20 Enyimba F.C.
2020- Rivers United
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Joel Theophilus Afelokhai (born 7 April 1988) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper. He is a multiple Nigeria Professional Football League title winner during a career in which he has played for Kano Pillars, Enyimba, and Rivers United.

Career

Afelokhai joined Rivers United from Enyimba in 2020. He became the most paid footballer in the Nigeria Professional Football League.[1] Such is his so-called “talismanic” ability for league titles it was joked in an interview with the Premium Times in July 2022 that he should join Manchester United Football Club in order to end their drought of success at the current moment in time.[2]

In the 2021/2022 NPFL title, he won his 7th Nigerian League title as a player with Rivers United. Afelokhai has also represented his clubs in African continental competitions including both the CAF Champions League,[3] and the CAF Confederation Cup.[4]

Style of play

Afelokhai has a good reputation for shot stopping and one-on-one save making.[5]

International career

Afelokhai[2] received his first call up to the Nigerian national football team in 2018 after an injury ruled out first choice Francis Uzoho.[6] He was part of the Nigeria squad for the 2018 African Nations Championship,[7] but was on the bench as they lost 4-0 in the final to Morocco at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca.[8]

Honours

Winner

Kano Pillars

  • NPFL: 2011-2012, 2012-2013, 2013–2014

Enyimba F.C.

  • NPFL: 2019

Rivers United

  • NPFL: 2021-2022

References

  1. ↑ "Most expensive NPFL star, Afelokhai speaks on Rivers United switch". spnafricanews.com.
  2. 1 2 "Rivers United goalkeeper Afelokhai reveals he is a league-winning talisman". Premiumtimeang.com.
  3. ↑ "AL HILAL OMDURMAN VS. RIVERS UNITED 1 - 0". Int.Soccerway.
  4. ↑ "RIVERS UNITED VS. AL MASRY 2-1". int.soccerway.
  5. ↑ "5 things to know about Super Eagles goalkeeper Afelokhai". pulse.ng.
  6. ↑ "Enyimba's Theophilus Afelokhai replaces Uzoho for South Africa, Uganda clashes". Goal.com.
  7. ↑ "CHAN 2018: Nigeria announce 23-man squad". Goal.com.
  8. ↑ "MOROCCO VS. NIGERIA 4-0". int.soccerway.com.
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