Victor Igbonefo

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.

Victor Igbonefo

Igbonefo playing for Navy in 2016
Personal information
Full name	Victor Chukwuekezie Igbonefo
Date of birth	(1985-10-10) 10 October 1985 (age 39)
Place of birth	Enugu, Nigeria
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1]
Position(s)	Centre-back
Youth career
0000	Nigerdock Soccer Academy
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2003–2004	First Bank	18	(0)
2005–2011	Persipura Jayapura	162	(8)
2011–2012	Pelita Jaya	31	(5)
2012	→ Chiangrai United (loan)	12	(1)
2013–2016	Arema Cronus	60	(0)
2015	→ Osotspa Samut Prakan (loan)	8	(0)
2016	Navy	29	(2)
2017	Nakhon Ratchasima	33	(2)
2018	Persib Bandung	27	(0)
2019	PTT Rayong	27	(0)
2020–2025	Persib Bandung	60	(0)
International career
2014	Indonesia Asian Games (O.P.)	4	(0)
2013–2021	Indonesia	14	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Indonesia AFF Championship Runner-up 2020 Singapore Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 24 May 2025

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
		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

1. Includes Thai FA Cup
2. Appearances in AFC Cup
3. Appearances in Indonesia President's Cup
4. Appearances in Menpora Cup
5. 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	Goals
Indonesia	2013	6	0
	2014	2	0
	2015	2	0
	2021	4	0
Total		14	0

Honours

Persipura Jayapura

• Indonesia Super League: 2008–09, 2010–11
• Liga Indonesia Premier Division: 2005
• Indonesian Community Shield: 2009^[14]

Arema Cronus

• East Java Governor Cup: 2013
• Menpora Cup: 2013
• Indonesian Inter Island Cup: 2014/15^[15]

Persib Bandung

• Liga 1: 2023–24,^[16] 2024–25^[17]

Indonesia

• AFF Championship runner-up: 2020^[18]

Individual

• Menpora Cup Best Eleven: 2021^[19]

See also

• List of Indonesia international footballers born outside Indonesia