Juwon Oshaniwa

Juwon Oshaniwa Biography / Profile

Juwon Oshaniwa was born on September 14th, 1990 in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. Juwon is from the Yoruba speaking part of Kogi State, Yagba East Local Government. He belongs to a family of six, three siblings, one female who is the eldest and three males of which he is the last child. He is a Nigerian international footballer who plays as a left back. He has previously played for Kwara United, Lobi Stars, Sharks in Nigeria, Ashdod in Israel and Heart of Midlothian in Scotland.

Juwon Oshaniwa Age

Not available.

Juwon Oshaniwa Early Life

Juwon schooled at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, where he represented the school at the West African University Games in Sudan. Upon his return from the championship, he saw his name in the papers reporting that Plateau United were looking to recruit him into their ranks. Juwon says he was shocked as he was not playing in the Nigerian football league, wondering how the club discovered him. He however, went to them to inquire the veracity of the reports. Upon the confirmation, he returned to inform his mum of his plan to combine studies and football.

Juwon Oshaniwa Career

Juwon played club football in Nigeria for Kwara United, Lobi Stars and Sharks. After five years at Nigeria, Oshaniwa announced his intention to play in Europe. In September 2012 he signed a four-year deal with Israeli club F.C. Ashdod, and made his Ashdod debut on 13 September 2012, where he made his first start in a 2–1 win over Beitar Jerusalem. Just four months after signing for the club, he was linked with a move to Scottish Premiership side Celtic. Unfortunately, Oshaniwa suffered a virus that kept him out for months and made his return to the first team on 3 March 2013, in a 1–1 draw against Hapoel Tel Aviv. In his first season at Ashdod, he made sixteen appearance for the club.

His second season at Ashdod saw him continue to be a first team regular, as he made twenty-four appearance. His playing time was restricted to six games after injuries. However, the club were later relegated from the Israeli top flight after finishing last of the Bottom Playoff. In January 2015 he was linked with a transfer to Scottish Premiership side Celtic for the second time. But the move never materialised. The 2014–15 season saw him play lessfor his first team, appearing only eleven times. During the season, he scored his first Ashdod goal on 17 January 2015, in a 2–1 win over Hapoel Petah Tikva. Following the 2014–15 season, it was announced that Oshaniwa left the club to make his move to Scotland.

In June, Juwon was linked with a move to Scottish club Heart of Midlothian ("Hearts") and stated he keen to move to United Kingdom to continue his football development. He signed for Hearts in July 2015. He was released by Hearts in June 2017, a year before his contract had been due to expire.

Juwon was called up by Nigeria on 30 March 2012 and made his international debut in 2012. Since being called up by the national team, he has appeared in FIFA World Cup qualifying matches. He was called up to Nigeria's 23-man squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. After appearing as an un-used substitute in Nigeria's African Cup of Nations, he played in the final when he came on as a substitute for Elderson Echiéjilé in the 66th minute. The game ended 1-0 against Burkina Faso. In the following year, he was named in the provisional squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He continued to be in the squad for the World Cup following the cuts to the 23-man squad, where he played in all four of Nigeria's matches at the World Cup.

Juwon Oshaniwa Personal Life

Juwon is religious and loves Yoruba music. His favourite food is boiled yam fried together with egg. He is presently single. His eldest brother is a goal keeper but he plays just for the fun of it. His immediate elder brother is a left footer whose playing career wascut short when he fell on the field of play and broke his hands.

Juwon Oshaniwa Awards

After winning the African Cup of Nations with the Super Eagles in 2013, he was awarded the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) by former president Goodluck Jonathan.