Former Nigeria youth international Orji Okwonkwo has opened up on his close ties with Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze, his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo, and the strength he found during a two-year doping ban as he targets a return to Serie A, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 27-year-old striker, currently on loan at Serie B side Cittadella from Bologna, scored his first goal in over three years with a stunning volley against Juve Stabia in February — a moment that marked his long-awaited return to competitive football.
“I’m happy for the goal, but personal goals take a back seat. Only the team counts,” Okwonkwo told Gazzetta dello Sport. “It’s important to have achieved victory after two defeats in a row.”
TRIUNFO IMPORTANTE!
— Lega B Brasil (@SerieBItaliaBR) March 1, 2025
Jogando fora de casa, a Cittadella venceu a Juve Stabia por 0️⃣X1️⃣.
O único gol da partida foi marcado aos 33, Marco Varnier perdeu a bola no meio-campo, Simone Rabbi avançou e tocou para Orji Okwonkwo, que finalizou, a bola bateu na trave e entrou. pic.twitter.com/mhEGpbIkSW
His journey back to the pitch has been anything but smooth. Okwonkwo was handed a four-year ban in 2022 after testing positive for the banned substance Clostebol.
The suspension was later reduced to two years, allowing him to resume playing in March 2024.
Reflecting on the difficult period, Okwonkwo revealed how his unwavering belief in himself kept him going.
“During this period, I never gave up — I fought every day with patience and faith,” he said.
“I was focused on work, I had no free time. I trained in the morning in the gym and in the afternoon on the field, without ever stopping.”
Despite the setback, Okwonkwo remained driven by his love for the game.
“Football is everything — my life. In these two years, I haven’t stopped training even for a day,” he added.
Okwonkwo: Osimhen and Chukwueze connection
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Okwonkwo’s journey to Italy began after he played a key role in Nigeria’s triumph at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, alongside current Super Eagles stars Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze.
“In 2015 we won the U17 World Cup with Nigeria. Osimhen and Chukwueze were there too. “Many clubs wanted me after the tournament, but I chose Bologna,” he said.
“I used to play in the street with my friends (in Nigeria) I was the best and I scored a lot. I always dreamed of becoming a footballer. I watched the Champions League and the games of Inter, Milan, Juventus.”
The striker remains close to Osimhen and Chukwueze, with the trio sharing a bond forged from their early days in Nigerian football.
Growing up, Okwonkwo idolised Cristiano Ronaldo — a player he would later face in Serie A while playing for Bologna against Juventus in 2018.
“It was 2018, Allegri’s Juventus — they won 2-0. I came on in the second half,” he recalled.
“At the end of the match, I tried to ask him for the shirt, but he had already promised it.”
Okwonkwo credits two former coaches, Roberto Donadoni and Filippo Inzaghi, for shaping his career in Italy.
“Donadoni gave me confidence — thanks to him, I made my debut in Serie A. Inzaghi, as a great former striker, told me what moves to make to create problems for the defenders.”
After a brief spell in MLS with Montreal Impact — where he won the Canadian Championship — Okwonkwo returned to Italy, citing his deep affection for the country.
“In the United States, soccer is a job, but here it’s different. You feel the passion of the fans and the responsibility of having to do well so as not to disappoint them,” he said.
With his ban behind him, Okwonkwo is focused on helping Cittadella secure safety in Serie B before setting his sights on a return to Serie A.
More of this incoming @impactmontreal re-acquire attacker Orji Okwonkwo on loan from Bologna: https://t.co/al4zWga2d3 pic.twitter.com/90LuXiCWxA
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) January 25, 2020
“I missed everything about this country. Italy is now my second home,” he added.
“To return to play in Serie A — that’s my dream. But first, I think about saving Cittadella.”
Okwonkwo’s overall record in Italy reads nine goals and three assists in Serie B as well as three goals and an assist in 27 Serie A games.
