Sekou Oliseh
Encyclopedia
Sekou Jabateh Oliseh, or simply Sekou (born 5 June 1990) is a Liberia
n international footballer who plays professionally for Russian side CSKA Moscow, as a midfielder
.
, Liberia
, Sekou Oliseh was adopted by Nigerian ex-professional footballer Churchill Oliseh
at a young age. His uncles are fellow footballers Azubuike Oliseh
, Egutu Oliseh
and Sunday Oliseh.
, before moving to Danish side Midtjylland
in 2006. Between 2008 and 2009, Oliseh made 5 league appearance for Midtjylland, before moving on loan to Russian side CSKA Moscow in July 2009. In December 2009, the loan deal became permanent as Oliseh signed a 5-year deal with CSKA.
and scored his first goal on the same day. He entered the match as a substitute for striker Tomáš Necid
in the 70th minute and scored nine minutes later to complete a 4-0 victory for the Army men. He then made his UEFA Champions League
debut as a substitute against Beşiktaş
on 8 December 2009, replacing Miloš Krasić
in the 82nd minute at the BJK İnönü Stadium
.
However, he was not able to secure a first team spot in 2010, due to the presence of fellow attacking midfielder Krasić. Following Krasić's transfer saga to Juventus
, Oliseh received a rare start and did not disappoint. He scored a double in the first half against Anzhi Makhachkala
on 15 August 2010, tallying in the 12th minute and then just before halftime for manager Leonid Slutskiy
's squad. Another winning goal followed on 20 September, scoring the only goal in the home victory against Sibir Novosibirsk.
.
in September 2010 for a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against Zimbabwe
. Oliseh would honor the invitation, citing star Liberian forward George Weah
as a key motivating factor behind his decision. "I have my entire family and friends here in Liberia who would love to see me play for our nation, I love Nigeria but I can't play for them," said Oliseh.
Oliseh then made his debut on 5 September 2010 against Zimbabwe and scored the equalizing goal in a 1-1 draw for Liberia.
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
n international footballer who plays professionally for Russian side CSKA Moscow, as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
Early life
Born in MonroviaMonrovia
Monrovia is the capital city of the West African nation of Liberia. Located on the Atlantic Coast at Cape Mesurado, it lies geographically within Montserrado County, but is administered separately...
, Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
, Sekou Oliseh was adopted by Nigerian ex-professional footballer Churchill Oliseh
Churchill Oliseh
Churchill Oliseh is a Nigerian football manager who currently manages FC Ebedei. He is the father of Sekou Oliseh and brother of Azubuike Oliseh, Egutu Oliseh and Sunday Oliseh....
at a young age. His uncles are fellow footballers Azubuike Oliseh
Azubuike Oliseh
Azubuike Oliseh is a Nigerian football midfielder. He last played for Ermis Aradippou in the Cypriot First Division. He is the younger brother of retired Nigeria captain Sunday Oliseh and the older brother of the former AS Nancy and QPR midfielder Egutu Oliseh; another brother is Churchill Oliseh...
, Egutu Oliseh
Egutu Oliseh
Egutu Chukwuma Oliseh is an Nigerian professional footballer who plays for Ergotelis. His stay at QPR was unremarkable, and was deemed to be surplus to requirements by the new manager John Gregory in January 2007, after only a six-month stay at the club...
and Sunday Oliseh.
Career
Oliseh began his career in his adopted home country Nigeria with EbedeiF.C. Ebedei
FC Ebedei is a Nigerian football club based in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State after moving from Lagos in 2001. They currently play in Nigeria National League, the second tier of Nigerian football....
, before moving to Danish side Midtjylland
FC Midtjylland
FC Midtjylland is a professional Danish football team from Herning and Ikast. The team is a result of a merger between Ikast FS and Herning Fremad...
in 2006. Between 2008 and 2009, Oliseh made 5 league appearance for Midtjylland, before moving on loan to Russian side CSKA Moscow in July 2009. In December 2009, the loan deal became permanent as Oliseh signed a 5-year deal with CSKA.
CSKA Moscow
Oliseh made his debut for CSKA on 4 October 2009 against Kuban KrasnodarFC Kuban Krasnodar
FC Kuban is a Russian football club based in Krasnodar. In 2011 will play in the Russian Premier League after having won the Russian First Division in 2010....
and scored his first goal on the same day. He entered the match as a substitute for striker Tomáš Necid
Tomáš Necid
Tomáš Necid is a Czech football player who currently plays for CSKA Moscow.-Club career:He played his first match for the senior team of SK Slavia Prague in September 2006, when he was just 17 years old...
in the 70th minute and scored nine minutes later to complete a 4-0 victory for the Army men. He then made his UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
debut as a substitute against Beşiktaş
Besiktas J.K.
Beşiktaş Jimnastik Kulübü , or simply Beşiktaş , is a Turkish sports club. The club's football team is one of the major teams in Turkey. The professional sports club, founded in 1903, is based in the Beşiktaş district in Istanbul, Turkey...
on 8 December 2009, replacing Miloš Krasić
Miloš Krasic
Miloš Krasić is a Serbian professional footballer who plays for Juventus and the Serbian national team.-Playing style:...
in the 82nd minute at the BJK İnönü Stadium
BJK Inonu Stadium
Fiyapı İnönü Stadium is a football stadium in Istanbul, Turkey and is the home ground of the football club Beşiktaş J.K.. Previously the ground has aso been shared with Galatasaray S.K. and Fenerbahce S.K.. The ground is located in Dolmabahçe, close to the Dolmabahçe Palace in the district of...
.
However, he was not able to secure a first team spot in 2010, due to the presence of fellow attacking midfielder Krasić. Following Krasić's transfer saga to Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
, Oliseh received a rare start and did not disappoint. He scored a double in the first half against Anzhi Makhachkala
FC Anzhi Makhachkala
FC Anzhi Makhachkala is a Russian football club based in Makhachkala, capital of the Republic of Dagestan, which plays in the Russian Premier League. The word "Anzhi" is part of Anzhi-Qala the old name of Makhachkala.-History:The club was founded in 1991 and has played in the Russian league since...
on 15 August 2010, tallying in the 12th minute and then just before halftime for manager Leonid Slutskiy
Leonid Viktorovich Slutsky
Leonid Viktorovich Slutsky is a Russian professional football coach and a former player, who currently coaches PFC CSKA Moscow.- Playing career :Slutsky's playing career was ended at just 19...
's squad. Another winning goal followed on 20 September, scoring the only goal in the home victory against Sibir Novosibirsk.
Playing style
Oliseh has been commended for his good work ethic, vision and team approach. His skills have been compared with African footballing legend Jay-Jay OkochaJay-Jay Okocha
Augustine Azuka "Jay-Jay" Okocha is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He is known for his stepovers, skill, technique, and being 'so good that they named him twice'...
.
International career
Oliseh, who had represented his adopted nation of Nigeria since childhood, received a call-up to the Liberian team from manager Bertalan BicskeiBertalan Bicskei
Bertalan Bicskei was a football goalkeeper and coach- Active career :As a youth player, he played for the most famous Hungarian club side, Ferencvaros, and he also honed his skills in Honved and MTK Budapest, both Premier Division Hungarian sides...
in September 2010 for a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe national football team
The Zimbabwe national football team, nicknamed The Warriors, is the national team of Zimbabwe and is controlled by the Zimbabwe Football Association. They were known as the Southern Rhodesia national football team from 1939–1964, then the Rhodesia national football team until 1980, when Rhodesia...
. Oliseh would honor the invitation, citing star Liberian forward George Weah
George Weah
George Tawlon Manneh Oppong Ousman Weah is a Liberian humanitarian and politician, and an ex-footballer. He ran unsuccessfully for president in the 2005 election, losing to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in the second round of voting...
as a key motivating factor behind his decision. "I have my entire family and friends here in Liberia who would love to see me play for our nation, I love Nigeria but I can't play for them," said Oliseh.
Oliseh then made his debut on 5 September 2010 against Zimbabwe and scored the equalizing goal in a 1-1 draw for Liberia.
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|