Thompson Oliha (4 October 1968 – 30 June 2013) was a Nigerian professional
footballer
A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby ...
who played as a
midfielder
A midfielder is an outfield position in association football.
Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in that case known as defensive midfielders. As central midfielders often go across boundarie ...
for clubs in Africa and Europe during an injury-shortened career.
Club career
Oliha played for
Bendel Insurance (1985–1987),
Iwuanyanwu Nationale
Heartland Football Club founded as Spartans F.C., later known as Iwuanyanwu Nationale from 1985 to 2006 is a Nigerian football club based in Owerri. The team play their home games at Dan Anyiam Stadium (but currently use the new Okigwe Stadium ...
(1988–1991),
Africa Sports
Africa Sports d'Abidjan is an Ivorian multi-sports club founded in 1947 and based in Abidjan. The club fields teams in the sports of track and field, handball, basketball and association football, of these the football team is the most promine ...
(1992–1993),
Maccabi Ironi Ashdod (1993–1994) and
Antalyaspor
Antalyaspor Kulübü is a Turkish professional football club located in the city of Antalya. The club's colours are red and white. They play their home matches at the Antalya Stadium. In Turkey, the club won the First League twice in 1982 and ...
(1994–1995). As a player, he was known for his powerful shots and abilities in the air. Oliha retired at the age of 27, as a result of a serious knee injury.
International career
Oliha made a total of 31 appearances for the full
Nigeria national team, scoring two goals. He made his international debut in 1990, in a game against
Senegal
Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 ...
and made his last appearance at the
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup was the 15th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national soccer teams. It was hosted by the United States and took place from June 17 to July 17, 1994, at nine venues across the country. The United States ...
, as a late substitute against
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
.
Oliha also played at the
1987 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1987 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in Chile from 10 to 25 October 1987. The 1987 championship was the 6th contested and won for the first time by Yugoslavia. Remarkably, in the course of the tournament the Yugoslavs defeated each of ...
.
Death
Oliha died due to complications from malaria on 30 June 2013. At the time of his death he was an assistant coach for the
Kwara Football Academy.
Thompson Oliha is dead
- Supersport.com
References
External links
*
1968 births
2013 deaths
Sportspeople from Benin City
Association football midfielders
Nigerian footballers
Nigeria under-20 international footballers
Nigeria international footballers
Africa Cup of Nations-winning players
1990 African Cup of Nations players
1992 African Cup of Nations players
1994 African Cup of Nations players
1994 FIFA World Cup players
Bendel Insurance F.C. players
Heartland F.C. players
Africa Sports d'Abidjan players
Maccabi Ironi Ashdod F.C. players
Antalyaspor footballers
Süper Lig players
Nigerian expatriate footballers
Expatriate footballers in Ivory Coast
Expatriate footballers in Israel
Expatriate footballers in Turkey
Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Ivory Coast
Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Turkey
Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Israel
Deaths from malaria
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