Victor Igbonefo

	Igbonefo playing for Navy in 2016
Personal information
Full name	Victor Chukwuekezie Igbonefo
Date of birth	10 October 1985 (age 39)
Place of birth	Enugu, Nigeria
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Youth career
0000	Nigerdock Soccer Academy
Senior career*
Years	Team
2003–2004	First Bank
2005–2011	Persipura Jayapura
2011–2012	Pelita Jaya
2012	→ Chiangrai United (loan)
2013–2016	Arema Cronus
2015	→ Osotspa Samut Prakan (loan)
2016	Navy
2017	Nakhon Ratchasima
2018	Persib Bandung
2019	PTT Rayong
2020–2025	Persib Bandung
International career
2014	Indonesia Asian Games (O.P.)
2013–2021	Indonesia
Medal record
Men's football
Representing Indonesia
AFF Championship
Men's football
Representing Indonesia
AFF Championship
	* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 24 May 2025
	Show more

Victor Chukwuekezie Igbonefo // ^ⓘ (born 10 October 1985) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back. Born in Nigeria, he played for the Indonesia national team.

Club career

Early career

Igbonefo started his career by joining Nigerdock Soccer Academy in Nigeria. In 2003, He signed his first professional contract for Lagos based club, First Bank.^[2] He made 18 league appearances with the club before leaving in 2004.

Persipura Jayapura

In 2005, Igbonefo signed for Indonesian league giant, Persipura Jayapura. On his first season with the club, he won the 2005 Indonesian League, after defeating Persija Jakarta 3–2 in the final.^[3] Igbonefo became a key player for Persipura in their campaign to win the league in 2008–09 and 2010–11 respectively, he also formed a solid partnership in the heart of defence with Bio Paulin.^[4] On 7 October 2009, Igbonefo helped Persipura to win the 2009 Indonesian Community Shield after defeating Sriwijaya 3–1 at Andi Mattalatta Stadium.

Pelita Jaya

On 12 October 2011, it was announced that Igbonefo has joined Pelita Jaya, two-days after he was naturalized as Indonesian citizen.^[5] He only stayed a season, making 31 appearances and scoring 5 goals.

On 6 August 2012, Igbonefo was loaned out to Thai Premier League club Chiangrai United. He was loaned with teammate Greg Nwokolo until October 2012.^[6] During his short loan spell, Igbonefo made 12 appearances and scoring a goal.

Arema Cronus

During the 2013 season, Igbonefo helped Arema Cronus finish as league runners-up.^[7] On 25 February 2014, Igbonefo scored his first goal for Arema Cronus, in a 1–1 draw against Selangor in the 2014 AFC Cup group stage match tie.^[8]

On 28 July 2015, Igbonefo returned to Thailand, by signing a loan deal for Osotspa Samut Prakan, he was given the number 30 shirt. He was signed by the team, to strengthen them in the second half of the 2015 season.^[9]

Navy

On 2 January 2016, It was announced that Igbonefo has joined Thai League 1 club, Royal Navy.^[10] On 20 July 2016, He scored an equaliser in the 90th-minute to help Navy hold BEC Tero Sasana 1-1.^[11] In his only season with the club, Igbonefo recorded 29 appearances and scored 2 goals, with his team finishing 14th in the league.

International career

The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) announced that Igbonefo has been officially naturalised on 10 October 2011. He made his debut for the Indonesia national football team in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification campaign against Saudi Arabia on 23 March 2013.^[12]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 24 May 2025^[13]

Club	Season	League			Cup^[a]		Continental^[b]		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Pelita Jaya	2011–12	Indonesia Super League	31	5	0	0	–		0	0	31	5
Chiangrai United (loan)	2012	Thai Premier League	12	1	0	0	–		0	0	12	1
Arema	2013	Indonesia Super League	32	0	0	0	–		0	0	32	0
	2014	Indonesia Super League	26	0	0	0	7	1	0	0	33	1
	2015	Indonesia Super League	2	0	0	0	–		0	0	2	0
	Total		60	0	0	0	7	1	0	0	67	1
Samut Prakan (loan)	2015	Thai Premier League	8	0	0	0	–		0	0	8	0
Navy	2016	Thai League 1	29	2	0	0	–		0	0	29	2
Nakhon Ratchasima	2017	Thai League 1	33	2	2	0	–		0	0	35	2
Persib Bandung	2018	Liga 1	27	0	0	0	–		2^[c]	0	29	0
PTT Rayong	2019	Thai League 1	27	0	1	0	–		0	0	28	0
Persib Bandung	2020	Liga 1	3	0	0	0	–		0	0	3	0
	2021–22	Liga 1	19	0	0	0	–		8^[d]	1	27	1
	2022–23	Liga 1	15	0	0	0	–		2	1	17	1
	2023–24	Liga 1	14	0	0	0	–		0	0	14	0
	2024–25	Liga 1	7	0	0	0	1^[e]	0	0	0	8	0
	Total		60	0	0	0	1	0	10	2	71	2
Career total			285	10	3	0	8	1	11	2	308	13

^ Includes Thai FA Cup
^ Appearances in AFC Cup
^ Appearances in Indonesia President's Cup
^ Appearances in Menpora Cup
^ Appearances in AFC Champions League Two

International

As of match played 9 December 2021

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team	Year	Apps
Indonesia	2013	6
	2014	2
	2015	2
	2021	4
Total		14

Honours

Persipura Jayapura

Arema Cronus

Menpora Cup: 2013
Inter Island Cup: 2014^[15]

Persib Bandung

Liga 1: 2023–24,^[16] 2024–25^[17]

Indonesia

AFF Championship runner-up: 2020^[18]

Individual

Menpora Cup Best XI: 2021^[19]

References

^ "Victor Igbonefo: Profile". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
^ "Kisah Victor Igbonefo: Gagal ke Eropa, Bersinar di Indonesia". kumparanBOLA (in Indonesian). 5 May 2020.
^ "Indonesia 2005". RSSSF. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
^ "Profil Victor Igbonefo - Bola.net" (in Indonesian).
^ "Greg dan Igbonefo Gabung Pelita Jaya". VIVA.co.id. 12 October 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
^ "Pelita Pinjamkan Greg dan Igbonefo ke Klub Thailand". Kompas.com. 6 August 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
^ "Kilas Balik Arema FC 2013: Los Galacticos Milik Bakrie Cronus yang Gagal Juara". skor.id (in Indonesian). 8 September 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
^ "Hasil Piala AFC Selangor Vs Arema, Skor Akhir 1-1". Bisnis.com (in Indonesian). 25 February 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
^ "Resmi Diperkenalkan Osotspa, Victor Igbonefo Pakai No 30". SINDONEWS (in Indonesian). 28 July 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
^ "Tak Kembali ke Arema, Victor Igbonefo Gabung Royal Navy". Bola.com (in Indonesian). 3 January 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
^ "Victor Igbonefo Cetak Gol Perdana dan Masuk Best XI Liga Thailand". Bola.com (in Indonesian). 21 July 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
^ "Indonesia Takluk 1-2 dari Arab Saudi". Archived from the original on 18 February 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
^ "Indonesia - V. Igbonefo - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
^ "Persipura Balas Sriwijaya di Community Shield" (in Indonesian).
^ "Jadwal Persib vs Arema Final Inter Island Cup Digelar 1 Februari 2015 di Palembang". rancahpost.co.id (in Indonesian). Liga Indonesia. 23 January 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
^ "Persib Bandung Juara Liga 1 2023/2024". CNN Indonesia. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
^ "Persib Juara Liga 1 Usai Persebaya Imbang". CNN Indonesia. 5 May 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
^ "Piala AFF 2020 Indonesia vs Thailand: Statistik Pertandingan Tunjukkan Kelemahan Garuda | liputan6.com". www.liputan6.com (in Indonesian). 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
^ "Persija Mendominasi Semua Lini, Ini Best XI Resmi Piala Menpora 2021". bolalob.com.

External links

Victor Igbonefo at Soccerway
Victor Igbonefo at National-Football-Teams.com

[14] Includes Thai FA Cup

[15] Appearances in AFC Cup

[16] Appearances in Indonesia President's Cup

[17] Appearances in Menpora Cup

[18] Appearances in AFC Champions League Two

[1] "Victor Igbonefo: Profile". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 10 October 2020.

[2] "Kisah Victor Igbonefo: Gagal ke Eropa, Bersinar di Indonesia". kumparanBOLA (in Indonesian). 5 May 2020.

[3] "Indonesia 2005". RSSSF. Retrieved 26 November 2021.

[4] "Profil Victor Igbonefo - Bola.net" (in Indonesian).

[5] "Greg dan Igbonefo Gabung Pelita Jaya". VIVA.co.id. 12 October 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2021.

[6] "Pelita Pinjamkan Greg dan Igbonefo ke Klub Thailand". Kompas.com. 6 August 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2021.

[7] "Kilas Balik Arema FC 2013: Los Galacticos Milik Bakrie Cronus yang Gagal Juara". skor.id (in Indonesian). 8 September 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.

[8] "Hasil Piala AFC Selangor Vs Arema, Skor Akhir 1-1". Bisnis.com (in Indonesian). 25 February 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2021.

[9] "Resmi Diperkenalkan Osotspa, Victor Igbonefo Pakai No 30". SINDONEWS (in Indonesian). 28 July 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2021.

[10] "Tak Kembali ke Arema, Victor Igbonefo Gabung Royal Navy". Bola.com (in Indonesian). 3 January 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2021.

[11] "Victor Igbonefo Cetak Gol Perdana dan Masuk Best XI Liga Thailand". Bola.com (in Indonesian). 21 July 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2021.

[12] "Indonesia Takluk 1-2 dari Arab Saudi". Archived from the original on 18 February 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2013.

[soccerway-13] "Indonesia - V. Igbonefo - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 11 August 2019.

[19] "Persipura Balas Sriwijaya di Community Shield" (in Indonesian).

[20] "Jadwal Persib vs Arema Final Inter Island Cup Digelar 1 Februari 2015 di Palembang". rancahpost.co.id (in Indonesian). Liga Indonesia. 23 January 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015.

[21] "Persib Bandung Juara Liga 1 2023/2024". CNN Indonesia. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.

[22] "Persib Juara Liga 1 Usai Persebaya Imbang". CNN Indonesia. 5 May 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2025.

[23] "Piala AFF 2020 Indonesia vs Thailand: Statistik Pertandingan Tunjukkan Kelemahan Garuda | liputan6.com". www.liputan6.com (in Indonesian). 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.

[24] "Persija Mendominasi Semua Lini, Ini Best XI Resmi Piala Menpora 2021". bolalob.com.

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