How Nigerian defender Abraham Onahi Ogbu played with a torn ACL for three years, got rejected by Göteborg, crowd-funded for surgery before breakthrough with Östersund

It was the culmination of a long-held dream for former Lobi Stars wing-back, Ogbu Abraham Onahi, who signed for Swedish second-division club, Östersunds FK last week. The two-year deal will see him stay at the club till the end of 2025.

The emotions were palpable when the 22-year-old left-back recounted his experiences to Soccernet.ng about his humble beginnings, playing football on the streets and how they shaped him to become the player he is today.

It could all have been different but for luck, prayers and the kind people who crowd-funded to get him surgery when he was almost down and out.

The fourth of six children, Ogbu was born on the 28th of March, 2002, in Makurdi, Benue State, and started to kick a ball in no time. After graduating high school in 2017, he decided to pursue football full-time.

He was immediately signed into F.C. Minda in Benue State, playing there for a year before joining Tiki Taka Academy, a Swedish-based academy with a Nigerian wing of operation that works with grassroots clubs and players to provide coaching infrastructure for young players to forge a career in European football.

Abraham was a solid addition to the team, and upon further screening, was scheduled to travel with the rest of the Tiki Taka team to Sweden for the Gothia Cup. Just like the Viareggio Cup, the Gothia Cup is a youth tournament that has about 1700 teams from over 80 countries arrive in Stockholm to fight for the Prestigious youth cup, with scouts from several European teams also well-represented. Xabi Alonso, Andrea Pirlo, Alan Shearer, and Alhassan Yusuf all participated in the Gothia Cup during their youth.

“It was my first trip abroad. We won the finals, and I came back to Nigeria. I played for F.C. Liberty upon returning for another year before Tiki Taka contacted me to play for another edition of the Gothia Cup. I had already played the previous edition, so I had an automatic ticket to join the team. This time, we got to the finals, but we lost,” Ogbu told Soccernet.ng.

Following his performance at the tournament, Ogbu was invited for a trial with two-time UEFA Cup winners, IFK Göteborg. After the trial, he was told to return to Nigeria as they’ll keep tabs on his development.

“Coming back to Nigeria, I felt bad because what was on my mind was to not return (without a contract), but then it’s a part of the process,” he said.

A new beginning with Lobi Stars

On his return to Nigeria in 2019, he was contacted by Lobi Stars to join them for the pre-season campaign. Upon the success of the pre-season, the one-time NPFL Champions decided to sign Abraham Ogbu on loan from F.C. Liberty.

During the season, the fleet-footed defender picked up a knee injury but remained aloof as he felt it was just the usual knocks footballers face from time to time.

“Back then, I didn’t know it was serious. I was ignorant about injuries, so I thought I’d recover in a week or a month, but that didn’t happen. I didn’t know what an MRI scan was, I was just lost. I went to several local doctors and got myself treated, so I couldn’t play any game for Lobi Stars till the end of the season. I nurtured the injury till I started playing in late 2020,” Ogbu added.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ogbu couldn’t do much, and with the resumption of League Football proper in 2021, his contract with Lobi Stars was terminated due to inactivity as he had barely featured for the side when he picked up his knee injury.

“I was fit, and I was playing football, I didn’t know my knee injury was very bad. After they terminated my contract, I felt horrible and thought that was the end of the road for me, as I had already made plans with the salary I was getting. So the termination came without my notice, and it was one of the saddest things for me, and I didn’t know what to do.”

A damaged Anterior Cruciate ligament in the right knee

Now a free agent, Ogbu reached out to the Tiki Taka hierarchy to explain his predicament, with hopes of finding another opportunity to play for a club abroad.

“I moved to Abuja to stay with my brother and continue my journey with Tiki Taka. They had their scouting program in November, and luckily for me, the Chief Scout from IFK Göteborg came there and I was happy because I felt I had another chance. I was the best player at the tournament, and I was picked.”

In January 2022, Abraham flew to Sweden to finalize his loan move to IFK Göteborg, with the option to buy. During his medicals, he explained he had discomfort playing to the team doctor.

“The doctor asked me a few questions, and I told him everything. They ran an MRI scan and it was discovered that I had been playing with a torn ACL for three years, alongside a compound Meniscus damage, and I needed to get surgery because they couldn’t put me at risk of playing since it could jeopardize my career and I was sent back to Nigeria,” said the defender.

With the help of Tiki Taka Academy, the money for the surgery was crowd-funded and a healthy number of selfless people donated to help Onahi get his career back on track. In all of this though, Lobi Stars were absent, as they left the player to freeze in the cold.

“Lobi Stars gave me their back. After my injury, they showed me a real attitude. The little salary I was using to take care of myself was slashed. They were of no help to me,” he said.

A new beginning

Ogbu returned to Tiki Taka in December 2022, with his knee back in shape and free of pain, and looked forward to another scouting program. He participated in two of those programmes in 2023 but wasn’t called up by any scouts. The disappointment set in.

“God was my source of strength. I’ve mastered joy and patience growing up, so even though it was hard for me mentally, I handled it the best way. There were days when I cried, and felt depressed. My dad had high hopes, but he kept motivating me, alongside my mum and siblings. I considered getting a job or even going back to school at some point, but I knew within me I was born to play football because I wondered why God would give me a talent and not help me use the talent.”

Unknown to him, the stars had aligned, and his breakthrough had come. Last month, he got a call for a trial from the second-tier Swedish side, Östersunds FK.

“I wanted to join another NPFL club, I just put it all in prayers. I was so happy when I got the call, but I was nervous because of my previous experience with IFK Göteborg. I passed the medicals, they were interested, and everything worked out. Now I’m here and I’m a professional player. I don’t pray for storms not to come, I pray for the strength to overcome whatever comes, It’s why I like the story of Job in the Bible.”

Ogbu joined the former Swedish Cup winners on a two-year deal. The pacy wing-back is keen to make the best of his chance and have the world at his feet.

“The weather here is cold, but it’s also my fourth time here, I think I’m used to it. I love everything here, God is helping me. I got signed a day before my birthday, it was the perfect gift. I won’t be relaxed and will put in all I have. I’m ready to fight,” Ogbu declared.

The future unfolds

Ogbu models his game after former Real Madrid left-back, Marcelo. Despite just stepping foot in Sweden, he has set his aim high and will stop at nothing to achieve his goal.

“I love Marcelo, No one else but Marcelo. But for my career, I’d love to play for Barcelona, and hopefully, my darling nation Nigeria, because I think they need a better full-back.”

Abraham’s journey embodies pain, heartbreak, faith, belief, hard work and resilience, and the “never give up mentality”. As his career in Sweden begins, the character he has garnered through his experience will set him apart.