Wilson Oruma: profile
Wilson Oruma (born 30 December 1976 in Warri, Nigeria) is a former Nigerian footballer who played as a midfielder.
Oruma made the step into senior football with Bendel Insurance F.C. in 1993. He played for 10 clubs in 5 countries between 1993 and 2010. The busiest spell of his career was at FC Sochaux-Montbéliard (2002–2005): 77 appearances and 6 goals. Across all recorded club spells he totals 339 appearances and 34 goals.
At international level, Oruma represented Nigeria (1995–2006), earning 19 caps and scoring 3 goals. Our match database lists 2 of his international goals; the first came against Kenya on 7 June 1997 (World Cup Qualification).
Warri has produced 30 footballers in our database, including Michael Obiku, Nedum Onuoha and Emmanuel Olisadebe.
Eligibility explained: Why does Wilson Oruma play for Nigeria?
Key facts
- Senior international debut
- 1995 (aged about 19)
- First international goal
- 1997 – aged 20 (match)
- Club career
- 1993–2010 (18 seasons)
- Countries played in
- 5: Nigeria, France, Turkey, Switzerland and Greece
- Club goals per game
- 0.10 (34 in 339)
- Height
- 174 cm — taller than 28% of Nigerian internationals on record
- Latest move
- A.O. Kavalas (association football) (2009)
- Shares a birthday with
- Boubacar Barry, Daniel Amokachi and Flávio Amado (more)
Club career
| Years | Club | League | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–1994 |  Bendel Insurance F.C. |
Nigeria National League | – | – |
| 1994–1998 |  R.C. Lens |
Ligue 1 | 42 | 2 |
| 1996–1997 | A.S. Nancy-Lorraine |
Ligue 2 | 22 | 0 |
| 1998–1999 |  Samsunspor FC |
Süper Lig | 21 | 4 |
| 1999–2000 | Nîmes Olympique |
Championnat National 1 | 25 | 2 |
| 2000–2002 |  Servette FC |
Swiss Super League | 49 | 12 |
| 2002–2005 | FC Sochaux-Montbéliard |
Ligue 2 | 77 | 6 |
| 2005–2008 | Olympique de Marseille |
Ligue 1 | 56 | 3 |
| 2008–2009 | En Avant de Guingamp |
Ligue 2 | 24 | 5 |
| 2009–2010 |  A.O. Kavalas (association football) |
Gamma Ethniki | 23 | 0 |
| Total | 339 | 34 |
Appearances and goals are league figures where recorded on Wikidata; “–” means not recorded.
International career
| Years | Team | Level | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995–2006 | Nigeria |
Senior | 19 | 3 |
International goals (2)
| # | Date | Match | Min | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 Jun 1997 | Nigeria 3–0 Kenya | 83 | World Cup Qualification |
| 2 | 24 Jun 1998 | Nigeria 1–3 Paraguay | 11 | FIFA World Cup |
*Goals listed are those present in our match-by-match goal database, which is most complete for tournament matches.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Wilson Oruma?
Wilson Oruma was born on 30 December 1976, which makes him 49 years old.
Where was Wilson Oruma born?
Wilson Oruma was born in Warri, Nigeria.
Which national team does Wilson Oruma play for?
Wilson Oruma played international football for Nigeria. He has 19 caps and 3 goals on record.
Which clubs has Wilson Oruma played for?
Wilson Oruma's recorded clubs are Bendel Insurance F.C., R.C. Lens, A.S. Nancy-Lorraine, Samsunspor FC, Nîmes Olympique, Servette FC, FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, Olympique de Marseille, En Avant de Guingamp and A.O. Kavalas (association football).
How tall is Wilson Oruma?
Wilson Oruma is 174 cm (5 ft 9 in) tall.
What position does Wilson Oruma play?
Wilson Oruma played as a midfielder.
Nigerian players of the same generation
Nwankwo KanuNigeria · b. 1976
Jay-Jay OkochaNigeria · b. 1973
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Momodu MutairuNigeria · b. 1976
Celestine BabayaroNigeria · b. 1978
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Taribo WestNigeria · b. 1974
V
Victor IkpebaNigeria · b. 1973
S
Sunday OlisehNigeria · b. 1974
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Garba LawalNigeria · b. 1974
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Tijani BabangidaNigeria · b. 1973
Isaac OkoronkwoNigeria · b. 1978
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Eric EjioforNigeria · b. 1979
Perpetua NkwochaNigeria · b. 1976