Chidozie Awaziem


Chidozie Collins Awaziem is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays for Spanish club CD Leganés on loan from FC Porto as a central defender.

Club career

Born in Enugu, Awaziem joined FC Porto from Portugal in 2014, where he spent his last year as a junior and won the corresponding league title. His senior debut was made with the B-team, in the Segunda Liga.
On 27 January 2016, aged 19, Awaziem appeared in his first competitive game with the main squad, featuring the full 90 minutes in a 0–2 away loss against C.D. Feirense in the Taça da Liga. His maiden appearance in the Primeira Liga took place on 12 February, as he again started in a 2–1 win at S.L. Benfica due to an injury crisis to the defensive sector.
For the 2017–18 season, Awaziem was loaned to French club FC Nantes. His first match in Ligue 1 took place on 6 August 2017, when he came on as a 74th-minute substitute in a 0–3 loss away to Lille OSC.
In January 2019, Awaziem joined Çaykur Rizespor on loan until the end of the campaign. On 15 August, in the same situation, he moved to CD Leganés.

International career

Aged 19, Awaziem was called up by Nigeria for friendlies against Mali and Luxembourg, on 27 and 31 May 2016. He made his senior debut on 1 June 2017, starting in a 3–0 win over Togo in Paris in another exhibition game.
Awaziem was included in Gernot Rohr's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, being an unused player as the tournament ended in group stage exit. He was also picked for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

Career statistics

International

International goals

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.8 September 2018Stade Linité, Victoria, Seychelles2–03–02019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Honours

Porto