Imoh Ezekiel’s career decline: From Belgian heights to unlikely destinations

By Dayo Awoniyi

Imoh Ezekiel, a former Super Eagles forward, has seen his career take a sharp decline after a promising start in European football.

Once playing for top Belgian clubs, Ezekiel now finds himself in lesser-known leagues in Nepal and Romania.

The 31-year-old striker initially made a name for himself at Standard Liège, where his performances earned him a call-up to the Super Eagles. However, after his time in Belgium, Ezekiel’s career began to falter.

Since then, Ezekiel has had spells at Konyaspor, Las Palmas, KV Kortrijk, Al-Jazira, and Al-Dhafra. His recent moves to Nepal and Romania have raised concerns among football observers.

In Nepal, Ezekiel joined Lalitpur City Football Club, scoring six goals in 11 matches between November 2023 and February 2024.

He then moved to Romanian side UTA Arad, where he scored two goals and registered two assists in 16 appearances.

Sources suggest that Ezekiel’s decline may be partly due to agents prioritizing financial gain over the player’s long-term career development.

This shift in focus has seen the Nigerian forward transition from European football to less competitive leagues, marking a dramatic fall from his once-promising trajectory.