Efe Ambrose

Efe Ambrose
Personal information
Full nameEfetobore Ambrose Emuobo
Date of birth(1988-10-18) 18 October 1988 (age 25)
Place of birthKaduna, Nigeria
Height1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing positionCentre Back / Right-Back
Club information
Current clubCeltic
Number4
Youth career
Kaduna Uniteds
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2006–2010Kaduna United
2008–2009→ Bayelsa United (loan)
2010–2012Ashdod67(3)
2012–Celtic65(5)
National team‡
2007Nigeria U204(0)
2008Nigeria U232(0)
2008–Nigeria38(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11 May 2014.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16 June 2014

Efetobore "Efe" Ambrose Emuobo (born 18 October 1988) is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a centre back or right back for Scottish Premiership club Celtic and the Nigeria national football team.

Ambrose has represented Nigeria at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, the Summer Olympics and the Africa Cup of Nations.

Career

Early career

Ambrose started his professional career at Kaduna United in 2006 and two years later, he was on loan at Bayelsa United for the 2008–09 season but remained with Kaduna United after helping them win promotion.[1]

FC Ashdod

Ambrose joined Israeli Premier League club FC Ashdod in June 2010.[2] Ambrose made his debut for the club in a 2–0 loss against Maccabi Netanya and later on his first season, he would score his first goal in a 4–1 loss against Maccabi Tel Aviv on 22 January 2011.

Celtic

Ambrose joined Scottish Premier League club Celtic in the summer 2012 transfer deadline day, signing a three-year contract.[3] After joining the club, Ambrose praised his new team mates at Celtic for helping him settle down in Glasgow quickly.[4] Ambrose also revealed he studied British football in order to join Celtic by watching both Scottish Premier League and English Premier League games on TV upon hearing about Celtic's interest in him.[5]

Ambrose made his début on 22 September 2012 as a substitute for Celtic captain Scott Brown against Dundee in the Scottish Premier League, a 2–0 victory.[6][7] He made his full début against Raith Rovers in the Scottish League Cup, in a 4–1 victory. He scored his first goal for Celtic in a 5–0 win over St Mirren on 20 October 2012, celebrating the goal with a quadruple somersault.[8] Ambrose went on to make his Champions League debut for Celtic, where he played 90 minutes in a 3–2 win over Spartak Moscow.[9] On 4 November 2012, Ambrose headed in an own goal, in a 2–2 draw against Dundee United. After the match, Ambrose said he let himself down and felt that he could have cleared the ball away.[10] On 7 November 2012, ahead of a Champions League game against Barcelona, Ambrose made a vow to give his best ever performance for the club.[11] After a stunning performance by the Celtic players, they won 2–1 and Ambrose said that winning against Barcelona was the 'perfect way to celebrate Celtic's 125th Anniversary.[12]

At the end of the Champions League group stage campaign, Celtic qualified for the knock-out stages and faced Italian side Juventus. In the first leg, Ambrose was named in the squad ahead of the match, only 3 days after Nigeria had won the Africa Cup of Nations, Ambrose had played the full 90 minutes in the final.[13] However, Ambrose made several mistakes during the match, allowing Alessandro Matri (first goal) and Mirko Vučinić (third goal) to score with ease. He also missed the club's best chance to score late in the game.[14] His performance was criticised by team-mate Kris Commons.[14] Though criticised, Ambrose was defended by Kelvin Wilson, who believed that Ambrose would bounce back from his disappointing performance.[15] Ambrose made amends in the next league game when he scored Celtic's opener in a 6–2 win over Dundee United. Ambrose's (along with Commons) performance was praised by Neil Lennon.[16] Three days later, he scored again, in a 1–1 draw against St. Johnstone. His strong performances led to rumours of a new contract.[17] Ahead of the second leg against Juventus, Ambrose revealed team-mate Commons had made amends with him.[18] He also revealed Commons' criticism inspired him to become a better player.[19] After the match, which Juventus won 2–0 and progressed to the quarter finals, Neil Lennon revealed Ambrose was late for training and missed the team bus from the hotel and was left to catch up by taxi,[20] Lennon also stated that Ambrose needed to "sort himself out."[21]

International career

Ambrose was a member of the Nigeria national under-20 football team at 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada.[22] He later represented Nigeria U-23 and played two games at the 2008 Summer Olympics.[23]

He was called up to Nigeria's 23-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.[24] In the Africa Cup of Nations, Ambrose played five out of six games for Nigeria, playing in the right-back position, including the final which he started. After the tournament, Ambrose was named in the African Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament.[25] Ambrose says winning the Africa Cup of Nations was his biggest achievement and one of the greatest moments of his life.[26]

He was selected for Nigeria's squad at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup[27]

International goals

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
113 October 2012CalabarLiberia6–1Win2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Style of play

Ambrose often played as a defensive midfielder for the Nigeria national football team and can also play as a centre back or right back, doing so in the Israeli Premier League at FC Ashdod.[28] A ball playing centre-half, Efe is known for his composure in possession.[29]

He is also noted for the multiple somersaults he performs in celebration when he scores a goal.[30]

Career statistics

As of 11 May 2014
ClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague CupEuropeTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Ashdod2010–113116020--391
2011–123521042--404
2012–13103000--40
Total67310062--835
Celtic2012–13273502070413
2013–143822010111523
Total6557030181936
Career Total13281709218117611

Honours

Club

Bayelsa
  • Nigerian Premier League (1): 2008–09
Kaduna United
  • Nigerian FA Cup (1): 2010
Celtic
  • Scottish Premiership (2): 2012–13, 2013-14
  • Scottish Cup (1): 2013

International

Nigeria

  • Africa Cup of Nations: 2013
  • silver medal Nigeria 2008 Summer Olympics

Individual

References

  1. Jump up ^ Nigeria: Bayelsa Grab Ambrose, Keep Okonkwo
  2. Jump up ^ Translated from FC Ashdod page
  3. Jump up ^ "Celtic: Efe Ambrose completes move from Ashdod". BBC Sport (BBC). 31 August 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012. 
  4. Jump up ^ "Efe Ambrose thanks his team mates for helping him settle in at Celtic Park". STV. 26 September 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012. 
  5. Jump up ^ "Efe Ambrose reveals he studied British football ahead of move to Celtic". Daily Record. 27 September 2012. 
  6. Jump up ^ "Efe Ambrose". Fitba Stats. Retrieved 28 May 2014. 
  7. Jump up ^ Egbe, Uche George (23 September 2012). "Ambrose debuts in Scotland". Kick Off. Retrieved 28 May 2014. 
  8. Jump up ^ "St Mirren 0–5 Celtic". BBC. 20 October 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2012. 
  9. Jump up ^ "Efe Ambrose's Celtic shock Spartak". MTN Football. 2 October 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2012. 
  10. Jump up ^ "Celtic's Efe Ambrose pledges to make amends for last minute Tannadice shocker". Daily Record. 6 November 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2012. 
  11. Jump up ^ "I will play the 'game of my life' against Barcelona, says Celtic defender Ambrose". Goal.com. 7 November 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2012. 
  12. Jump up ^ "Efe Ambrose: Celtic win over Barca was perfect 125th birthday pressie". Daily Record. 9 November 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2012. 
  13. Jump up ^ "Celtic stopper Efe Ambrose heads back to Glasgow after African Nations Cup victory". Daily Record. 11 February 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013. 
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b "'He should have put in a better performance' – Commons hits out at Ambrose after Juventus defeat". Goal.com. 13 February 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013. 
  15. Jump up ^ "Ambrose will bounce back after criticism, says Celtic defender Wilson". Goal.com. 14 February 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  16. Jump up ^ "Celtic 6 Dundee United 2: Commons and Ambrose bury the Euro hatchet to sink Dundee United". Daily Record. 16 February 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  17. Jump up ^ "Efe Ambrose wants to talk to Celtic about a new deal, says his agent". Daily Record. 22 February 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  18. Jump up ^ "I'm so sorry Efe". The Scottish Sun. 3 March 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  19. Jump up ^ "Celtic defender Efe Ambrose says Kris Common's criticism has inspired him to become a better player". Daily Record. 3 March 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  20. Jump up ^ "Celtic discipline Ambrose for lateness before Juventus tie". Goal.com. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  21. Jump up ^ "Celtic boss Neil Lennon orders dozy defender Efe Ambrose to sort out mental state.. and his heading". Daily Record. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013. 
  22. Jump up ^ FIFA.com – FIFA Player Statistics: Efe AMBROSE
  23. Jump up ^ [1]
  24. Jump up ^ Oluwashina Okeleji (10 January 2013). "Nations Cup 2013: Nigeria pick six locally-based players". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 January 2013. 
  25. Jump up ^ "Mikel, Moses, Emenike, Pitroipa named in CAF Team of Tournament". Premium Times Nigeria. 11 February 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013. 
  26. Jump up ^ "Ambrose: We leave as giants". FIFA.com. 11 February 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013. 
  27. Jump up ^ "Nigeria to take new-look squad to Confederations Cup". BBC Sport. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013. 
  28. Jump up ^ SkySports.com Player Profile
  29. Jump up ^ Fisher, Stewart (25 October 2012). "Ambrose and Wilson making strong case for the Celtic Defence". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 6 December 2013. 
  30. Jump up ^ "Awesome Celebration: Efe Ambrose (Celtic) v Cliftonville". 101 Great Goals. 24 July 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013. 

External links

 
Nigeria squads
Nigeria men's football squad – 2008 Summer Olympics – Silver Medalists
Nigeria squad – 2013 Africa Cup of Nations Winners (3rd title)
Nigeria squad – 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup
Nigeria squad – 2014 FIFA World Cup
Celtic F.C. – current squad
  • 1 Forster
  • 2 Matthews
  • 3 Izaguirre
  • 4 Ambrose
  • 5 van Dijk
  • 6 Biton
  • 8 Brown (c)
  • 10 Stokes
  • 11 Boerrigter
  • 15 Commons
  • 17 Baldé
  • 18 Rogić
  • 19 Friðjónsson
  • 20 Pukki
  • 21 Mulgrew
  • 22 Mouyokolo
  • 23 Lustig
  • 24 Załuska
  • 25 Johansen
  • 28 Griffiths
  • 31 Herron
  • 33 Kayal
  • 34 O'Connell
  • 41 Fisher
  • 44 Fraser
  • 45 Toshney
  • 49 Forrest
  • 53 Henderson
  • 56 F. Twardzik
  • Manager: Deila

Source :
sepakbola.biz
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