Victor Ikpeba is a former Super Eagles forward or support striker and former African Footballer of the Year . Ikpeba was part of the most defining era of Nigeria’s football – the Atlanta 1996 triumph which brought the country prestige and recognition as a powerhouse in football.
Ikpeba, fondly called “Prince of Monaco” had an admirable career and is considered as one of the best Nigerian forwards in history.
Victor Ikpeba played for a couple of clubs on Europe but had his best moment for Monaco where he earned the famous moniker mentioned above.
The striker would have played for Reggina but his wife, already intoxicated with the ambience and beauty of the city of Monaco, reportedly looked Ikpeba in the house on the day he was to sign his contract.
This post examines Victor Ikpeba’s background, career, net worth, post-careet engagements, social media engagements, controversy among other details about the former African Footballer of the Year.
Victor Ikpeba Background
Former Super Eagles striker/forward Victor Nosa Ikpeba was born in Benin-City, the capital of Edo State but hails from Owhelogbo community which is located in the present day Isoko North Council Area of Delta State, South South region of Nigeria.
Ikpeba took took after the footsteps of his father, a retired Airforce officer who played football during his active days in the military.
Victor Ikpeba is the first son of three boys. Unfortunately, he lost his father at a young age and his paternal grandmother took him in and raised him in Sapele, Delta State.
Education
Victor Ikpeba attended Crowder School in Sapele for his elementary education. He also attended Okpe Grammar School where he became a “warlord” leading the school to conquer oppositions in the prestigious Principal Cup.
Ikpeba attended the famous Yaba College of Technology after his secondary education bwfore he decided to follow his passion, football.
How old is Ikpeba?
Victor Ikpeba is currently 51 years old as of April 2025. He was born on Nigeria’s new Democracy Day – June 12, 1973 in Benin-City.
Victor Ikpeba’s height
Ikpeba is of average height and stature.
Career
Victor Ikpeba started his football career at an early age on the streets of Benin-City and also played football for his secondary school before he got an invitation to the national under-17 team in 1998.
He made it to the 1989 FIFA Cadet Championship in Scotland. Ikepba scored twice on the group stage against Canada and China before the Golden Eaglets crashed out in the quarter-final after losing to eventual eventual winners Saudi Arabia on penalties.
Victor Ikpeba featured for ACB Lagos and Eko Holiday Inn – an amateur club side in the LAFA league before his talent attracted suitors from Europe.
Victor Ikpeba Monaco reign
RFC Liege snapped up Victor Ikpeba immediately after the Cadet World Cup. Ikpeba scored 17 goals in his final season at the club and joined the legendary coach Arsene Wenger at Monaco in 1993.
After a challenging start at Monaco, Ikpeba found form and scored 13 goals to help Monaco win the 1996/1997 Ligue 1 title.
He also helped the club win the Tropée Des Champions that same year. He also finished as the second topscorer in the UEFA Cup that season. His performance that season earned him the 1997 African Footballer of the Year award.
Botched Reggina move
Victor Ikpeba, after a successful spell at Monaco was close to joining Reggina in the Serie A. After agreeing to join the club, his then wife, unwilling to give up the life in Monaco. locked the player in his house on the day he was to sign his contract.
Reunion with Sunday Oliseh
Victor Ikpeba joined his Super Eagles teammate Sunday Oliseh at Borussia Dortmund in 1999 for £4.8m. His time at the German Bundesliga outfit didn’t go well as he fell out with coach Matthias Sammer. He turned down a move to Southampton and decided to Real Betis in the Spanish La Liga.
Unfortunately, he barely played as he considered overweight by the coach as he made just three appearancea for the club. Ikpeba had stints with Al-Ittihad Tropoli where he scored 13 goals in 26 matches but left half-way his contact due to financial renumeration.
Victor Ikpeba returned to Belgium after a shoet period without a club. He played for his former Liege coach at Charleroi and helped the club avoid relegation.
Ikpeba retired from professional football after a failed move to Freiburg in the German Bundesliga. Although he had a stint with Al Sadd in the Qatar League in 2005.
Victor Ikpeba Super Eagles Atlanta 1996
Ikpeba played for the national Under-17 team and graduated to the Under-23 team that made history as the first African team and black nation to win an Olympic gold medal in the football event at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. Ikpeba scored the equalizer against Brazil pulsating in 4-3 win at the Stanford Stadium Athens, Georgia.
Victor Ikpeba wore jersey number 20 was also part of the Super Eagles team that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia. He also played at the USA 1994 and France 1998 FIFA World Cups.
He scored Super Eagles lone goal in the win over Bulgaria in the second group match in France 1998 FIFA World Cup.
One of the fondest memories fans have about Victor Ikpeba is the penalty he “missed” in the shootout against Cameroun in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in Lagos.
His supposed “missed” penalty crossed the goal line after hitting the crossbar but was not counted. Ikpeba put his hands on his head after the incident which many beleived influence the referee’s decision.
Victor Ikpeba scored seven goals in 31 appearances for the Super Eagles between 1992 and 2002.
Ikpeba played alongside late striker Rashidi Yekini, Jay Jay Okocha, Emmanuel Amuneke, Celestine Babayaro, Kanu Nwankwo, Sunday Oliseh, Daniel Amokachi among others in the Super Eagles.
Recently, Ikpeba said none of the current Super Eagles players can play during is era as a national team player. He revealed that the current crop of players lack certain qualities.
However, he believes Victor Osimhen is on the track to break Rashidi Yekini’s record as Super Eagles topscorer.
Victor Ikpeba Style of Play
If Victor Ikpeba played in today’s era of football, he would probably be shifted to the left wing or as a false 9. Ikpeba thrives on speed, trickery, goal sense and postional awareness in the box.
Career Achievements
RFC Liège
- Belgian Cup: 1989–90
Monaco
- Ligue 1: 1996–97
- Trophée des Champions: 1997
Al-Ittihad
- Libyan Premier League: 2002–03
Nigeria
- Africa Cup of Nations: 1994
- Olympic Games: 1996
Individual
- Ebony Shoe Award: 1993
- African Footballer of the Year: 1997
Victor Ikpeba Net Worth
Ikpeba’s wealth comes from salaries and earnings from the clubsides he played for in Europe and other parts of the World. Ikpeba’s net worth is pegged at $4.5m according to sources online. Ikpeba is a brand ambassador to popular betting brand Bet9ja.
Victor Ikpeba wife and kids.
Ikpeba keeps private details about his life off the media. He was married to Atinuke who unfortunately died of Breast Cancer in 2000. Victor Ikpeba has two daughters Christy and Linda.
What does Victor Ikpeba do now?
Victor Ikpeba is a football analyst and commentator with Supersports where he features on regular programming – Monday Night Football alongside ace presenter Charles Anazodo and co-analyst Segun Agbede.
Social media
Victor Ikpeba is on Instagram and X platforms with over 3,000 and 24,000 followers respectively.
Where does Victor Ikpeba lives?
Ikpeba lives in the Maryland/Ikeja area of Lagos State and he frequently gets invitations to football charity programs among other sports related events.
