The 2014 African Nations Championships Player of the Tournament, Ejike Uzoenyi, has joined South African side Ajax Cape Town on a four-year deal, the Premier Soccer League side confirmed, on Wednesday.
Uzoenyi was the star of the 2014 tournament in Cape Town where Nigeria’s Super Eagles, coached by the late Stephen Keshi finished 3rd after a win over Zimbabwe. The left sided winger would ride on the success to be part of Nigeria’s team to the 2014 summer World Cup in Brazil where he featured against Argentina in the third group game.
Uzoenyi has since 2014 been in South Africa, first with Mamelodi Sundowns before switching to reigning PSL Champions Bidvest Wits this January. His time in the Rainbow nation has been plagued by injuries though and he made just two appearances for Wits in the five months he spent at the club.
With Wednesday’s announcement, Uzoenyi becomes the Urban Warriors’ third signing this week after former Gent winger Innocent Nemukondeni and defender Junaid Sait. The club had promised to announce three new deals this week and Uzoenyi’s capture completes the deal.
Uzoenyi has been training with the club for the past four weeks and this may represent his last chance of making a mark in a country that fell in love with him after he scored twice against their locally assembled National side in 2014.
Uzoenyi, 29 is in line to make his debut for Ajax in their league opener next week Friday against his former club and reigning champions Bidvest Wits at the Bidvest stadium.