1. Overview
Edwin Ifeanyi is a former Cameroonian international footballer who played primarily as a midfielder or forward. Born on April 28, 1972, he is most recognized for his professional club career in Japan, where he played for several teams in the Japan Football League (JFL), J1 League, and J2 League from 1995 to 2000.
2. Personal Information
Edwin Ifeanyi was born on April 28, 1972, in Cameroon. He is a Cameroonian national. During his professional career, he played as a midfielder and also as a forward. He was known by the nickname "Edo". Ifeanyi stands at 70 in (178 cm) tall and weighs 159 lb (72 kg).
3. Club Career
Edwin Ifeanyi's professional club career spanned several teams in Cameroon, France, and primarily Japan, before he returned to his home country.
His early career included spells at Prévoyance Yaoundé in Cameroon and COSF Sménil FC in France. In 1995, he moved to Japan, where he would spend the next six years of his career. After his time in Japan, he returned to Cameroon, playing for Racing Club Bafoussam in 2004 and Mount Cameroon FC in 2005.
3.1. Tokyo Gas (1995-1997)
Ifeanyi joined Tokyo Gas (now FC Tokyo) in 1995, playing in the Japan Football League. At the time, he was a notable and somewhat rare Cameroonian player in Japan, preceding the arrival of other prominent Cameroonian footballers like Patrick M'Boma. He primarily played as a left or right side-half and an attacking midfielder, contributing significantly with his high work rate and ability to create scoring opportunities. He maintained a stable performance throughout his tenure, appearing almost continuously. At the end of the 1997 season, after helping Tokyo Gas reach the semi-finals of the Emperor's Cup, he left the team with the stated intention of returning to the Cameroon national team. During his three seasons with Tokyo Gas, he made 72 league appearances, scoring 16 goals.
3.2. Verdy Kawasaki (1998)
In 1998, Ifeanyi transferred to Verdy Kawasaki (now Tokyo Verdy) in the J1 League. However, due to the team's strong squad depth, he found limited opportunities to play. He made only 2 league appearances and 3 appearances in the J.League Cup during his single season with the club, without scoring any goals.
3.3. Omiya Ardija (1999)
For the 1999 season, Ifeanyi moved to Omiya Ardija in the J2 League. He was initially entrusted with the number 10 jersey and played as an attacking midfielder. However, his time at Omiya Ardija was cut short due to injury, leading to a mid-season transfer. He played 10 league matches for Omiya Ardija, scoring no goals, and also made 2 appearances in the J.League Cup.
3.4. Oita Trinita (1999)
Following his departure from Omiya Ardija, Ifeanyi joined Oita Trinita later in the 1999 season. Oita Trinita was at the time competing for promotion to the J1 League, including against his former club, FC Tokyo. He experienced a tumultuous period, as the team narrowly missed out on J1 promotion in the final match of the 1999 J2 League season. He made 18 league appearances for Oita Trinita, scoring 1 goal.
3.5. Montedio Yamagata (2000)
Edwin Ifeanyi's final season in Japan was in 2000, when he played for Montedio Yamagata in the J2 League. He made 32 league appearances, scoring 3 goals. He also contributed significantly in the Cup, scoring 3 goals in 1 appearance. After this season, he departed Japan.
4. National Team Career
Edwin Ifeanyi represented the Cameroon national team from 1992 to 1994. He made his international debut on July 11, 1992, in a friendly match against the South Africa national team. His second and final cap came on May 3, 1994, in a match against the South Korea national team. In total, he earned 2 caps for Cameroon, without scoring any goals.
5. Career Progression and Life in Japan
Ifeanyi's journey to Japan in 1995 marked a significant phase of his football career. He began with Tokyo Gas, where he established himself as a reliable and dynamic midfielder in the Japan Football League. His move to Verdy Kawasaki in the J1 League in 1998 was a step up, but limited playing time led him to transition to various clubs in the J2 League, including Omiya Ardija, Oita Trinita, and Montedio Yamagata. These later years in Japan's second division saw him continue to play regularly, albeit in teams striving for promotion.
After concluding his playing career in Japan in 2000, Ifeanyi returned to his home country of Cameroon. He continued his professional career there, playing for Racing Club Bafoussam in 2004 and Mount Cameroon FC in 2005. During his time in Japan, his family also established roots, with his brothers residing in the country and opening a restaurant.
6. Personal Aspects and Evaluation
Edwin Ifeanyi was known for his personal qualities during his time in Japan. He was described as a frank and serious individual, earning him the affection of fans. His approachable nature and dedicated demeanor contributed to his popularity among supporters of the clubs he represented.
7. Statistics
| Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Japan | League | Emperor's Cup | J.League Cup | Total | ||||||
| 1995 | Tokyo Gas | Football League | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | 15 | 1 | |
| 1996 | 29 | 7 | 3 | 2 | - | 32 | 9 | |||
| 1997 | 28 | 8 | 5 | 1 | - | 33 | 9 | |||
| 1998 | Verdy Kawasaki | J1 League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 1999 | Omiya Ardija | J2 League | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| 1999 | Oita Trinita | J2 League | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 |
| 2000 | Montedio Yamagata | J2 League | 32 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 6 |
| Total | 134 | 20 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 148 | 26 | ||
| Cameroon national team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 |
| 1993 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 0 |