Michael Okechukwu Uchebo (born 2 February 1990) is a Nigerian footballer. A striker, he currently plays for VVV-Venlo in the Dutch Eredivisie

Eredivisie

The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....

. He is a graduate of the Enugu Rangers

Enugu Rangers

Rangers International football club of Enugu popularly called Enugu Rangers is one of only two Nigerian division one football teams that has never been relegated.-History:...

 Youth System and a Nigerian Under-20 international.

Career

Uchebo began his career in the youth team of Enugu Rangers

Enugu Rangers

Rangers International football club of Enugu popularly called Enugu Rangers is one of only two Nigerian division one football teams that has never been relegated.-History:...

 in March 2007 and soon rose through the ranks, muscling his way into the first team of the Elite club scoring and setting up a number of goals. Uchebo signed a three year contract with VVV Venlo

VVV Venlo

VVV-Venlo is a football club from Venlo in the Netherlands, currently playing in the Eredivisie. The club plays its home games in the De Koel stadium, known as Seacon Stadion – De Koel - for sponsorship reasons....

 in October 2009. Venlo's football director Mario Captien described him as physically very strong striker who is a target man at the front.
Dutch Voetbal International

Voetbal International

Voetbal International is a Dutch football magazine, which has been publishing since 1965. It is the oldest Dutch football magazine that is still running....

, referred Uchebo as the new Kanu Nwankwo.

In November 2011, Venlo's chairman Hai Berden revealed that the club is in talks with English side Stoke City

Stoke City F.C.

Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...

 regarding the transfer of Uchebo.

International career

Uchebo is also member of the U-20 Nigerian National Football Team and in August 2008 he scored his first goal for Nigeria in a match against Togo in the West African Football Union tournament.
In Feb 2009 against South Africa in the Confederation of African Football

Confederation of African Football

The Confederation of African Football is the administrative and controlling body for African association football.CAF represents the national football associations of Africa, runs continental, national, and club competitions, and controls the prize money, regulations and media rights to those...

 U-20 2009 African Youth Championship

2009 African Youth Championship

The 2009 African Youth Championship is a football tournament for Under 20 players. It was held in Rwanda from the 18th of January until the 1st of February 2009....

 tournament, Uchebo scored the opening goal for the Nigerian Flying Eagles. He was described in the media as the most sought after player among the Flying Eagles squad in the tournament.

In June 2011 Uchebo was called up by current Olympic team and and National U-23 coach Austin Eguavoen for the crucial return leg of the Olympic qualifiers against Tanzania

Tanzania

The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...

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In October 2011 U-23 coach Austin Eguavoen visited the netherlands and met with officials of VVV Venlo to secure the release of Uchebo to participate the inaugural edition of the CAF U-23 championship in Morroco.