Samson Okikiola Tijani (born 17 May 2002) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Wolfsberger AC on loan from Red Bull Salzburg. He also represents the Nigeria national team.
_54.jpg) Tijani in 2022 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Samson Okikiola Tijani[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 17 May 2002[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Enugu, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Wolfsberger AC (on loan from Red Bull Salzburg) | ||
| Number | 6 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2020 | Collins Edwin Sports Club | ||
| 2019–2020 | → FDC Vista Gelendzhik (loan) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020– | Red Bull Salzburg | 3 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | → TSV Hartberg (loan) | 18 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | → Liefering (loan) | 16 | (0) |
| 2023– | → Wolfsberger AC (loan) | 27 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2019 | Nigeria U17 | 9 | (2) |
| 2020– | Nigeria | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 May 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 31 December 2022 | |||
Club career
Tijani began his career with Collins Edwin Sports Club before signing with Austrian Bundesliga side Red Bull Salzburg on 17 July 2020.[3] A month later, on 14 August, Tijani was loaned out to Hartberg for the season.[4] He made his competitive debut for the club on 30 August against Dornbirner SV in the Austrian Cup. He started and played the full match as Hartberg won 7–0.[5][6] [7]
On 12 September 2020, Tijani made his professional debut for the club in the league against Rheindorf Altach. He started and played 71 minutes in a 1–1 draw.[8]
In the match played with FK Austria Wien on July 22, 2022, fractures occurred in his tibia and lower muscle, and he had to leave the game.[9]
TSV Hartberg
TSV Hartberg joined on August 16, 2020 on loan. He had a successful performance in the 18 games he played here, but did not contribute any goals or assists.
FC Liefering
On 1 July 2021 Tijani was loaned out to Liefering on a season long loan.
FC Red Bull Salzburg
In the 2021–22 winter break, Tijani was promoted to FC Red Bull Salzburg's main squad.[10] On 6 February 2022, Tijani made his professional debut for the club in the Cup match against LASK. He came in in the 89th minute for Nicolas Capaldo in a 3–1 win.[11] [12]
Wolfsberger (loan)
On 23 August 2023, Tijani joined Wolfsberger AC on a season-long loan deal.[13]
International career
Tijani was part of the Nigeria side to compete in the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations, Where they came 4th and qualified for the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup.[3] During his team's opening match against Hungary, Tijani scored a brace as Nigeria U17 won 4–2.[14] Tijani made his debut with the senior Nigeria national team in a friendly 1-0 loss to Algeria on 9 October 2020.[15]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 30 December 2022[16]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Hartberg (loan) | 2020–21 | Austrian Bundesliga | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| Liefering (loan) | 2021–22 | Austrian 2. Liga | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Red Bull Salzburg | 2021–22 | Austrian Bundesliga | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Red Bull Salzburg | 2022–23 | Austrian Bundesliga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | 33 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 0 | ||