Former Nigeria youth international Orji Okwonkwo has opened up about his emotional journey and the strength he found during a two-year doping ban.
Now, at 27, Okwonkwo is aiming for a triumphant return to Serie A after a remarkable recovery.
Okwonkwo, currently on loan at Serie B side Cittadella from Bologna, scored his first goal in over three years with a stunning volley against Juve Stabia in February — a moment marking the end of a long road to redemption.
“I’m happy for the goal, but personal goals take a back seat. Only the team counts,
It’s important to have achieved victory after two defeats in a row.”Okwonkwo told Gazzetta dello Sport.
His comeback comes after a turbulent period where Okwonkwo was handed a four-year ban in 2022 after testing positive for the banned substance Clostebol.
Okwonkwo in action for Cittadella.
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The ban was later reduced to two years, allowing him to return to football in March 2024. Despite this setback, Okwonkwo never gave up.
“During this period, I never gave up — I fought every day with patience and faith,” he revealed.
“Football is everything to me. In these two years, I haven’t stopped training even for a day.”
Growing up, Okwonkwo idolized Cristiano Ronaldo, a player he later faced in Serie A with Bologna in 2018.
“At the end of the match, I tried to ask him for his shirt, but he had already promised it,” Okwonkwo recalled.
Okwonkwo credits his former coaches Roberto Donadoni and Filippo Inzaghi for shaping his career in Italy. After a brief spell in MLS, he returned to Italy, where he feels most at home.
“In Italy, football is more than just a job. You feel the passion of the fans, and the responsibility to succeed,” he added.
With his doping ban behind him, Okwonkwo’s focus is now on helping Cittadella secure their place in Serie B, while continuing to dream of a Serie A return.
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“To play in Serie A again — that’s my dream,” he concluded.
The former Brescia hitman has played 18 matches with 1 goal as he rebuilds his image and career from the scratch again.
