Oluwafemi Ajilore

Nigerian footballer (born 1985)

Femi
Femi with Midtjylland in 2007
Personal information
Full name Ebenezer Oluwafemi Ajilore
Date of birth (1985-01-18) 18 January 1985 (age 39)
Place of birth Atakunmosa West, Nigeria
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
0000–2002 Ebedei
2002–2004 Midtjylland
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2008 Midtjylland 76 (4)
2008–2013 Groningen 78 (4)
2011–2012 → Brøndby (loan) 17 (0)
2013–2015 Midtjylland 2 (0)
2015–2016 Middelfart G&BK
International career
2008 Nigeria U23 6 (0)
2008–2011 Nigeria 6 (0)
Medal record
Representing  Nigeria
Men's Football
Silver medal – second place 2008 Beijing Team Competition
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ebenezer Oluwafemi Ajilore (born 18 January 1985), also known as Femi, is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Club career

Ebenezer Oluwafemi Ajilore was born on 18 January 1985 in Oshu, Atakunmosa West, Nigeria.[1] He progressed through FC Ebedei's youth academy before moving to cooperation club Midtjylland in the Danish Superliga in 2002, becoming the first player to do so.[2] He made his debut for the club on the first matchday of the 2004–05 season, starting in a 2–1 away victory against AaB.[3] On 15 August, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 away loss to Brøndby.[4][5]

After impressing with Midtjylland, Femi joined Dutch Eredivisie club Groningen in May 2008 on a five-year deal.[6] The fee was undisclosed, but reported to be €3.3 million, the highest transfer fee ever paid by the club.[7][8] As a result of the high transfer fee, Femi joined amid high expectations. However, he struggled to adapt to his new environment, experiencing significant difficulties on the field during his initial season. Despite these challenges, he briefly showed signs of improvement, but ultimately, his performances never matched the high hopes that accompanied his arrival, and he left the club as his contract expired in 2013.[9][10] Before that, he went on a one-season loan to Danish club Brøndby in the 2011–12 season, where he also failed to impress.[11][12]

On 4 December 2013, Femi returned to Midtjylland. Earlier during the autumn, Midtjylland had attempted to re-sign Femi after his contract with Groningen expired, but visa regulations initially prevented his return to Denmark. However, he later joined Midtjylland for training and performed well enough to earn a contract until the summer of 2015.[13] However, he struggled with form and injuries, making only two Superliga appearances before his contract was mutually terminated on 26 January 2015.[14]

On 10 August 2015, Femi joined Danish 2nd Division side Middelfart G&BK for the 2015–16 season.[15] In November 2015, after the club turned professional, Femi signed a contract with them.[16] He left the club at the end of the season, in June 2016.[17]

International career

He played with the Nigeria under-23 team in the 2008 Beijing and won the silver medal. He made his full debut for the Super Eagles against Colombia on 19 November 2008.

Personal life

Femi also holds a Ghanaian passport.[1]

Following his career, Femi moved to Abuja, Nigeria, where he settled with his wife and children.[7]

In 2019, he was studying for a coaching certificate and co-owned FEMAK Football Academy in Ikeja, Lagos, with childhood friends and former football player Stephen Makinwa and Ifeanyi Emeghara.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Ex-International Femi Ajilore's Father Goes Home". Daily Sports Nigeria. 21 June 2019. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Femi tilbage til FC Midtjylland". Ikast-BrandeNyt (in Danish). 4 September 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Superliga AaB–FCM, 25. juli 2004, 15:00". SuperStats. Archived from the original on 15 July 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  4. ^ "Brøndby vandt knebent over FC Midtjylland". B.T. (in Danish). 15 August 2004. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Superliga BIF–FCM, 15. august 2004, 15:00". SuperStats. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  6. ^ Clausen, Mads (15 May 2008). "Femi solgt til Groningen". DR (in Danish). Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  7. ^ a b Raalte, Sam van (17 January 2019). "Zo gaat het nu met de clubloze Oluwafemi Ajilore". VICE (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Femi duurste aankoop ooit FC Groningen". RTV Drenthe (in Dutch). 14 May 2008. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  9. ^ Nusselder, Peter (6 May 2010). "Ajilore bloeit op bij Groningen: 'Ik voelde me totaal niet op mijn gemak'". Voetbalzone (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  10. ^ Sprey, Nathan (11 April 2020). "FC Transfervrij FC Groningen: Roorda, Stenman, Ajilore en Salmon". FCUpdate.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Femi ikke tilfreds med bænkplads". bold.dk (in Danish). 11 March 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  12. ^ "Brøndby: Fem spillere stopper". bold.dk (in Danish). 21 May 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  13. ^ "FCM skriver med Femi". bold.dk (in Danish). 4 December 2013. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  14. ^ Blond, Mikael (26 January 2015). "FCM ophæver med Femi". bold.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  15. ^ Weirsøe, Frank (10 August 2015). "Scoop: Middelfart skriver kontrakt med Femi". TV 2 Fyn (in Danish). Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  16. ^ Blond, Mikael (21 November 2015). "Middelfart skriver kontrakt med Femi". bold.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 27 November 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  17. ^ Blond, Mikael (15 June 2016). "Femi forlader Middelfart – Salami på vippen". bold.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  • Oluwafemi Ajilore at DR (in Danish) (archived)
  • Ajilore wants Euro Cup action – The Sun News Online
  • Oluwafemi Ajilore at National-Football-Teams.com
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Nigeria men's football squad – 2008 Summer Olympics – Silver medalists
Nigeria