Ini-Abasi Umotong
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Ini-Abasi Anefiok Umotong[1] | ||
Date of birth | [1] | 15 May 1994||
Place of birth | Calabar, Nigeria | ||
Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Youth career | |||
Birmingham City[3] | |||
2011–2012[4] | Aston Villa | ||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2012–2013 | Wright State Raiders | 38 | (11) |
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2014–2016 | Portsmouth | 45 | (54) |
2016–2017 | Oxford United | 26 | (17) |
2017–2020 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | (11) |
2020 | Växjö DFF | 15 | (2) |
2021–2022 | Lewes | 20 | (9) |
International career‡ | |||
2015– | Nigeria | 7[5] | (1) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 31 July 2020 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 May 2018 (UTC) |
Ini-Abasi Anefiok Umotong (born 15 May 1994) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward[6] for the Nigeria national team.
Early life
Born in Calabar, Nigeria, Umotong alongside her family moved to Birmingham, England when she was one year old. She is the youngest of six siblings born to Dr Ben Anefiok and Grace Umotong of Ikono in Old Cross River State. She began playing football at the age of five and it was in Primary school where she was spotted by Birmingham City in 2003. She later attended the selective King Edward VI Five Ways Grammar School.
International career
She earned her first call up to the
On arrival after two weeks, promising Umotong got her first taste of action almost immediately as a late substitute in a warm-up 1–1 draw against a male academy team, but did not feature in any of Nigeria's three group matches as the African Champions failed to progress to the knockout stage.
In January 2019 at the Four Nations Tournament in China, Umotong scored her first goal for the Super Falcons. She emerged from the substitute's bench to register the final goal in a 4–1 win over Romania. "One of the stand-out moments of my career," she said.[12]
Club career
Umotong's phenomenal first season (2014–15) at
In February 2016, Umotong left Portsmouth for
After a
Personal life
Before becoming a full-time footballer with Brighton, Umotong combined her football career with her studies for an Economics degree at the University of Southampton. She graduated with first-class honours and claimed to have been inspired by Eniola Aluko.[19]
Honours
Portsmouth F.C. Women
References
- ^ a b "List of Players – 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
- ^ "Ini Umotong Biography". WSURaiders.com.
- ^ "Extra Time Knock Out For Reserves".
- ^ "Shekicks – Women's Football Interviews: Graham Abercrombie/ Aston Villa LFC Manager".
- ^ a b "Historic day for Pompey as Umotong makes international debut". Sent Her Forward.
- ^ Chibuogwu Nnadiegbulam. "WATCH OUT! The Falcons' Fast and Furious 8.... (Part 2) – SportON Nigeria". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
- ^ "Coach Edwin Okon Calls 36 to Camp". Nigeria Football Federation's (thenff) Official Website.
- ^ Chibuogwu Nnadiegbulam. "Excited Umotong relishes her call up to Super Falcons, celebrates with a brace – SportON Nigeria". Archived from the original on 30 June 2015.
- ^ Chibuogwu Nnadiegbulam. "Umotong lands in Super Falcons camp, plays first test match – SportON Nigeria". Archived from the original on 30 June 2015.
- ^ "World Cup hopeful Umotong scores on Nigerian bow". Sent Her Forward.
- ^ "Canada 2015 World Cup excites Umotong, Dike". Nigeria Football Federation. 28 May 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
- ^ Ketley, Jake (25 January 2019). "Umotong thrilled with first international goal". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
- ^ "Substitute Umotong's double helps Portsmouth to Hampshire Cup record – Sent Her Forward". Sent Her Forward.
- ^ "Ini Umotong: Oxford United Women sign Portsmouth Ladies striker". BBC Sport. 24 February 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
- ^ "Oxford snap up Ini Umotong". She Kicks. 24 February 2016. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
- ^ "9 Ini Umotong Forward". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Retrieved 9 March 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Bailey, Steve (26 July 2017). "Albion women sign Nigerian international". Brighton & Hove Independent. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
- ^ "Umotong buoyed by a new challenge". The Football Association. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
- ^ "This is how Ini Umotong juggled World Cup football with her First Class honours degree". Copa90. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
- ^ "Pompey win the league after victory over West Ham".
- ^ Neil Weld. "Portsmouth Ladies 4 Southampton 1 in Hampshire Cup final".
External links
- Ini-Abasi Umotong – FIFA competition record (archived)
- Profile at Portsmouth FC
- Ini-Abasi Umotong at Soccerway