…Onuche Ogbelu made 33 appearances for Esperance in 2024/35 season
Nigerian midfielder Onuche Ogbelu has been named in Esperance Sportive de Tunis’ 24-man squad for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, set to take place in the United States of America, Bold Sports reports.
The 22-year-old, a former Nigeria U-20 international, earned his place in the final squad following a standout season in the 2024/25 campaign, where he played a pivotal role in Esperance clinching a record 34th Tunisian league title.
Onuche Ogbelu has been one of the club’s most consistent performers this season, featuring in 20 of their 30 league matches, including starts in 10 of the last 12 fixtures. His reliability and strong presence in midfield have made him a key figure in Maher Kanzari’s setup, and the coach is counting on him to provide stability and drive in the U.S.-hosted tournament.
In the 2024/25 season, he made 33 appearances for the club in all competitions, including 10 in the CAF Champions League and three in the Tunisian Cup.
Esperance has been drawn in Group D, where they will compete against UEFA Europa Conference League winners Chelsea, Brazilian giants Flamengo, and Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC (LAFC).
The Tunisian champions open their campaign with a tough clash against Flamengo on June 16 at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. They will then face LAFC at the Geodis Park in Nashville on June 20, before wrapping up the group stage with a high-profile showdown against Chelsea on June 24, also at Lincoln Financial Field.
Esperance is one of four African clubs in this year’s expanded Club World Cup, alongside Al Ahly (Egypt), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), and Wydad AC (Morocco), making the continent well represented in the prestigious global tournament.
Onuche Ogbelu is the second Nigerian player listed to play at the FIFA Club World Cup after Zaidu Sanusi with FC Porto.
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