Lateef Omotola Omidiji Jr. (born 14 September 2003) is a soccer player who plays as a forward.[3] Born in the United States, he has represented both the US and Nigeria at youth international level.
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Lateef Omotola Omidiji Jr. | ||
| Date of birth | 14 September 2003[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Las Vegas, United States | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| FC Dordrecht | |||
| 2017–2018 | Feyenoord | ||
| 2018–2020 | Go Ahead Eagles | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021 | UNLV Rebels | 16 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| United States U14 | |||
| United States U15 | |||
| United States U16 | |||
| 2018–2018 | Nigeria U15 | ||
| 2019–???? | Nigeria U17 | ||
| ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14:45, 29 August 2021 (UTC) | |||
Early and personal life
editOmidiji was born in Las Vegas to a Nigerian father (who is Muslim) and an American mother.[4][5] His sister is Sophia Omotola Omidiji.[5][6] In June 2017 he described himself as a "straight A student" who had received an award from President Obama for his grades.[6]
Club career
editOmidiji began his career at the age of 5 with the Rainbow Youth Soccer League in Las Vegas.[6] At the age of 10 he was described as a "soccer prodigy".[7]
He moved from FC Dordrecht to Feyenoord in 2017.[8] He later moved to Go Ahead Eagles.[9][10]
In November 2020 it was announced that Omidiji had returned to the United States to attend high school in Las Vegas, and had signed a letter of intent with the UNLV Rebels.[2][11] he scored 1 goal in 16 games in the 2021 season.[12]
International career
editOmidiji is eligible to represent the United States and Nigeria.[13]
After representing the United States at under-14, under-15 and under-16 levels, he began playing for Nigeria under-15s in May 2018.[14] He is also eligible to represent the Netherlands.[6] In 2019 he was dropped by the Nigeria under-17s.[15]
References
edit- ^ "Meet 15-yr old wonder kid who turned down America to play for Nigeria". Pulse Nigeria. 21 August 2018.
- ^ a b "Las Vegas Native, International Standout Lateef Omidiji Jr Signs With Rebels". University of Nevada Las Vegas Athletics. 11 November 2020.
- ^ "Lateef Omidiji Jr hangs out with Neymar, Eden Hazard and Alexis Sanchez | Goal.com". www.goal.com.
- ^ "Lateef Omidiji, who once played soccer in his home country of Nigeria, speaks about his son, 10-year-old Lateef Omidiji Jr., with the Review-Journal before Omidiji Jr.'s soccer practice at Russell …". Las Vegas Review-Journal.
- ^ a b Yusuf Akinlotan (5 September 2017). "Revelation of 14-year-old Nigerian American wonder kid that may lead Golden Eaglets in 2019". iWitness. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
- ^ a b c d Remi Sulola (26 June 2017). "INTERVIEW: Nothing scares me on the football pitch, I'm like a pit bull, says Omidiji Jnr". The Cable. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
- ^ "Las Vegas soccer prodigy, 10, in scouts' sights". 18 May 2014.
- ^ "Feyenoord troeft Engelse topclubs af en trekt Omidiji (13) aan" (in Dutch). FR12. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
- ^ "Nottingham Forest could miss out on highly-rated striker, here's why – opinion". Vital Nottingham Forest. 7 May 2019.
- ^ "Trainingsstage voor jeugdspeler Lateef Omidiji bij Nigeria Onder-17". 16 February 2019.
- ^ Mills, Sadë (11 November 2020). "International standout Lateef Omidiji Jr. signs with Rebels men's soccer team". KSNV.
- ^ "Lateef Omidiji Jr - Men's Soccer". University of Nevada Las Vegas Athletics.
- ^ "Lateef Omidiji Jr.: Meet the 12-year-old prodigy that could spark a bidding war between Nigeria and the US | Goal.com". www.goal.com.
- ^ Shina Oludare (25 May 2018). "Feyenoord prodigy Lateef Omidiji Jr. gets Nigeria U15 call-up". Goal.com. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
- ^ "Go Ahead Eagles' Lateef Omidiji Dropped From Nigeria U17 Roster After Failing To Impress Coaches :: All Nigeria Soccer - The Complete Nigerian Football Portal". www.allnigeriasoccer.com.