Nigerian midfielder Onuche Ogbelu has completed a transfer to Libyan Premier League leaders Al Ittihad, signing from Tunisian club Espérance Sportive de Tunis. The move, reported by the Media Talk Africa, marks a return to North Africa for the 22-year-old after a single season in Tunisia.
Ogbelu’s career trajectory has been swift. He emerged from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), where he played for Nasarawa United before his move to Espérance in 2023. At the Tunisian powerhouse, he primarily served as a creative midfielder, making 45 league appearances and scoring two goals. His time in Tunis coincided with the club’s participation in the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup, where Ogbelu featured and gained valuable international exposure against top continental sides.
Al Ittihad, currently dominating the Libyan league, are perennial contenders in CAF competitions. The signing of Ogbelu represents a strategic addition to their midfield, targeting a player with proven experience in a competitive North African league and recent high-level tournament football.
Ogbelu’s talent has long been recognized within Nigeria. A former key player for the national U-20 team, the Flying Eagles, he has also received a call-up to the senior Super Eagles training camps, though he is yet to earn a full cap. His development from the NPFL through to clubs in Tunisia and now Libya underscores his status as a product of Nigeria’s domestic league system finding progression abroad.
This transfer highlights the continued pipeline from the NPFL to established African clubs. For Al Ittihad, Ogbelu provides youthful dynamism and playmaking ability as they pursue domestic and continental objectives. The move completes a cycle that began in Nigeria, passed through a top Tunisian club, and now lands in the high-stakes environment of Libyan and African club football.
