Sani Emmanuel

{{short description|Nigerian footballer|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name           = Sani Emmanuel
| image          =
| fullname       = Sani Shehu Emmanuel
| birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|1992|12|23|df=y}}
| birth_place    = [[Edo State|Edo]], Nigeria
| height         = 1.70 m
| currentclub    = 
| clubnumber     =
| position       = [[Striker (association football)|Striker]]
| youthyears1    =
| youthclubs1 = [[My People FC|My People]]
| youthyears2 = 2009–2010
| youthclubs2 = [[Bodens BK]]
| youthyears3 = 2010–2012
| youthclubs3 = [[S.S. Lazio|Lazio]]
| years1 = 2012–2014
| clubs1 = [[S.S. Lazio|Lazio]]
| caps1  = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2012
| clubs2 = → [[U.S. Salernitana 1919|Salernitana]] (loan)
| caps2  = 1
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2013
| clubs3 = → [[FC Biel-Bienne]] (loan)
| caps3  = 10
| goals3 = 5
| years4 = 2014
| clubs4 = [[Beitar Jerusalem F.C.|Beitar Jerusalem]]
| caps4  = 1
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2015
| clubs5 = [[Oskarshamns AIK]]
| caps5  = 4
| goals5 = 1
| totalcaps = 16
| totalgoals = 6
| nationalyears1 = 2009
| nationalteam1  = [[Nigeria national under-17 football team|Nigeria U17]]
| nationalcaps1  = 5
| nationalgoals1 = 5
| nationalyears2 = 2011
| nationalteam2  = [[Nigeria national under-20 football team|Nigeria U20]]
| nationalcaps2  = 2
| nationalgoals2 = 0
}}
'''Sani Shehu Emmanuel''' (born 23 December 1992) is a Nigerian professional [[association football|footballer]] who plays as a [[striker (association football)|striker]].

==Career==

===Early career===
Born in [[Edo State|Edo]], Emmanuel started his playing career in his native [[Nigeria]] for [[My People FC]], a Nigerian football Academy based in [[Lagos]] and which was run by the Synagogue Church of Nations.<ref name=MyPeopleFCModernGhana>{{cite web|last=Oshukeye|first=Shola|title=SANI EMMANUEL’S TRIUMPH FROM TRAGEDY|url=http://www.modernghana.com/news/251521/1/sani-emmanuels-triumph-from-tragedy.html|work=Modern Ghana|accessdate=4 April 2013}}</ref> In 2009 Emmanuel joined Swedish club [[Bodens BK]] where he stayed for only a few months as [[FIFA]] rules stated that he had to be 18 years old to make an international transfer.<ref>{{cite web|title=Unprecedented Boden history|url=http://www.ostersundsfk.se/?p=2268|work=Ostersunds FK|accessdate=4 April 2013}}</ref> In 2010, after his award-winning performance at the [[2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup]], it was reported that Emmanuel had trials at both [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] and [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] of the English [[Premier League]].<ref name=MirrorChelseaTottenhamTrials>{{cite web|last=Stammers|first=Steve|title=Chelsea and Spurs in fight to land African starlet|url=http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-news-Chelsea-and-Tottenham-in-fight-to-land-African-starlet-Sani-Emmanuel-article369847.html|work=Mirror Football|accessdate=4 April 2013}}</ref> While at Tottenham Emmanuel was even offered an extended stay.<ref name=MirrorChelseaTottenhamTrials/> However, in 2011, after trialing at several clubs in Europe, Emmanuel signed for Italian [[Serie A]] side [[S.S. Lazio]] where he was immediately put into their Primavera side.<ref name=EmmanuelLazioSigning2011>{{cite web|title=Official: Sani Emmanuel Loaned To Bienne|url=http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=9026|work=All Nigeria Soccer|accessdate=4 April 2013}}</ref> In 2012 Emmanuel signed for [[U.S. Salernitana 1919]] of the [[Lega Pro Seconda Divisione]] on a co-owned basis from Lazio and on 9 September 2012 Emmanuel made his only appearance for the 4th tier Italian side against [[S.S. Chieti Calcio|Chiete Calcio]] in which he came on in the 58th minute for Christian Chirieletti as Salernitana suffered a 4–1 defeat that day.<ref>{{cite web|title=CHIETI VS. SALERNITANA 4 – 1|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2012/09/09/italy/serie-c2/calcio-chieti/salernitana-calcio-1919/1370506/|work=Soccerway|accessdate=4 April 2013}}</ref>

====FC Biel-Bienne (loan)====
On 16 February 2013, it was announced that Emmanuel had signed with [[Swiss Challenge League]] side [[FC Biel-Bienne]] on loan for the rest of the season.<ref name=EmmanuelLazioSigning2011/> He made his debut for the club on 16 March 2013 against [[FC Wohlen|Wohlen]] in which he came on in the 72nd minute for [[Ramon Egli]] as Biel-Bienne lost the match 1–0.<ref>{{cite web|title=WOHLEN VS. BIEL-BIENNE 1 – 0|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2013/03/16/switzerland/challenge-league/fc-wohlen/fc-biel-bienne/1293404/|work=Soccerway|accessdate=4 April 2013}}</ref>

On 12 May 2013, Emmanuel scored his first professional goals in a league match against [[FC Wohlen]] in which he scored a hat-trick to lead Biel-Bienne to a 7–0 victory.<ref>{{cite web|title=BIEL-BIENNE VS. WOHLEN 7 – 0|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2013/05/12/switzerland/challenge-league/fc-biel-bienne/fc-wohlen/1293442/|work=Soccerway|accessdate=8 July 2013}}</ref> He scored two more goals for Biel-Bienne on 30 May 2013 against [[FC Winterthur]] as the club 2–2.<ref>{{cite web|title=WINTERTHUR VS. BIEL-BIENNE 2 – 2|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2013/05/30/switzerland/challenge-league/fc-winterthur/fc-biel-bienne/1293458/|work=Soccerway|accessdate=8 July 2013}}</ref>

===Beitar Jerusalem===
In October 2014 Sani signed with [[Beitar Jerusalem F.C.|Beitar Jerusalem]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.one.co.il/Article/240943.html|title=Sani Emmanuel finalized with Beitar Jerusalem for a season|first=Guy|last=Ben Ziv|publisher=ONE|language=Hebrew|date=21 October 2014}}</ref> Three weeks later, after playing only 24 minutes for the club, Sani was released by Beitar Jerusalem, with the club stating that the coach was not excited by Sani and that he did not feature in future plans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.one.co.il/Article/242117.html|title=Sani Emmanuel released from Beitar, but will continue training|first=Guy|last=Ben Ziv|publisher=ONE|language=Hebrew|date=13 November 2014}}</ref>

After leaving Beitar Jerusalem, Emmanuel had a trial at [[Bosnia]]n side, [[FK Sarajevo]], but failed in his attempt.<ref>{{cite news|title=SARAJEVO WON'T GIVE SANI EMMANUEL A CONTRACT|url=http://africanfootball.com/news/548395/Sarajevo-won-t-give-Sani-Emmanuel-a-contract|accessdate=22 May 2016|work=African Football|date=13 July 2015}}</ref>

In November 2019 ex-teammate [[Ogenyi Onazi]] helped pay for Emmanuel's medical expenses. Emmanuel was to undergo surgery for achilles tendonitis.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Okeleji |first1=Oluswashina |title=Sani Emmanuel: Onazi pays for ex-Nigeria U-17 star's surgery |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50547515 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=14 April 2021 |date=25 November 2019}}</ref>

==International==
Emmanuel rose the prominence during the [[2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup]] which was hosted in his home country [[Nigeria]]. Emmanuel finished the tournament with five goals being the joint top-scorer and won the Golden Ball as he helped Nigeria to a runners-up finish behind [[Switzerland national under-17 football team|Switzerland]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Swiss take their place in history|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/u17worldcup/nigeria2009/match-center|work=FIFA|accessdate=8 July 2013}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
{{updated|14 April 2021}}<ref>{{soccerway|sani-emmanuel/102558}}</ref>

<!-- NOTE: when updating stats, update the infobox too! -->
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|Domestic Cup
!colspan="2"|League Cup
!colspan="2"|[[UEFA]]
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division
!Apps
!Goals
!Apps
!Goals
!Apps
!Goals
!Apps
!Goals
!Apps
!Goals
|-
|[[U.S. Salernitana 1919|Salernitana]] (loan)
|[[2012–13 Lega Pro Seconda Divisione|2012–13]]
|[[Lega Pro Seconda Divisione]]
|1||0||0||0||0||0||—||—||1||0
|-
|[[FC Biel-Bienne]] (loan)
|[[2012–13 Swiss Challenge League|2012–13]]
|[[Swiss Challenge League]]
|10||5||0||0||0||0||—||—||10||5
|-
|[[Beitar Jerusalem F.C.|Beitar Jerusalem]]
|[[2014–15 Israeli Premier League|2014–15]]
|[[Israeli Premier League]]
|1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||1||0
|-
|[[Oskarshamns AIK]]
|[[2015 Division 1 (Swedish football)|2015]]
|[[Division 1 (Swedish football)|Swedish Division 1]]
|4||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||4||1
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!16!!6!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!16!!6
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Soccerway|sani-emmanuel/102558}}

{{FIFA U-17 World Cup awards}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Emmanuel, Sani}}
[[Category:1992 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Edo State]]
[[Category:Nigerian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Nigeria men's under-20 international footballers]]
[[Category:Nigeria men's youth international footballers]]
[[Category:My People F.C. players]]
[[Category:SS Lazio players]]
[[Category:US Salernitana 1919 players]]
[[Category:FC Biel-Bienne players]]
[[Category:Beitar Jerusalem F.C. players]]
[[Category:Oskarshamns AIK players]]
[[Category:Serie C players]]
[[Category:Swiss Challenge League players]]
[[Category:Israeli Premier League players]]
[[Category:Ettan Fotboll players]]
[[Category:Nigerian expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Italy]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy]]
[[Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Israel]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Israel]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Sweden]]