Nigerian Midfielder Ogbelu Completes Move to Libyan Al-Ittihad
Nigerian midfielder Onuche Ogbelu joins Libyan giants Al-Ittihad SC on a permanent three-year deal following the expiration of his contract with Tunisian powerhouse Esperance. The 23-year-old defensive midfielder, who scored twice in 54 league appearances for Esperance, moved from Nigerian Premier Football League side Nasarawa United to Tunisian club in 2023.
Ogbelu's transfer represents career progression from NPFL to North African football, following in the footsteps of many Nigerian stars who excel in the Tunisian and Egyptian leagues. His move to Libyan Al-Ittihad continues this trend of Nigerian players advancing through North African clubs before potentially targeting European leagues.
Internationally, Ogbelu represented Nigeria at the 2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations where the Flying Eagles finished third. His performance earned him selection among four players to train with the Super Eagles after the tournament. This transfer provides Ogbelu with more first-team opportunities as he continues his development toward senior national team contention.