Olympic medal record
Competitor for  Nigeria
Men's Football
Gold	1996 Atlanta	Team Competition

Celestine Babayaro (born August 29, 1978 in Kaduna, Nigeria) is a footballer who plays left-back and is currently contracted to Newcastle United of the English Premiership. Image File history File links Flag_of_Nigeria. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The 1996 Summer Olympics, formally known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and informally known as the Centennial Olympics, were held in 1996 in Atlanta, United States. ... Final results for the Football competition at the 1996 Summer Olympics held in Birmingham, Alabama; Washington, D.C; Orlando, Florida; Miami, Florida; and Athens, Georgia. ... is the 241st day of the year (242nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... Location of Kaduna in Nigeria Kaduna is the state capital of Kaduna State. ... A player (wearing the red kit) has penetrated the defence (in the white kit) and is taking a shot at goal. ... Newcastle United Football Club (also known as The Magpies or The Toon) are an English professional football team based in Newcastle upon Tyne. ... For the Scottish equivalent see Scottish Premier League The FA Premier League (often referred to as the Barclays Premiership in England and the Barclays English Premier League or just simply The EPL internationally) is a league competition for football clubs located at the top of the English football league system...

Babayaro began his playing career at Nigerian side, Plateau United before moving to Belgium and Brussels outfit, Anderlecht in 1994 and made a name for himself through his performances for Nigeria in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, where the African nation won the golden medal. Nickname: Map showing the location of Brussels in Belgium Coordinates: , Country Belgium Region Brussels-Capital Region Founded 979 Founded (Region) June 18, 1989 Government  - Mayor (Municipality) Freddy Thielemans Area  - Region 162 km²  (62. ... Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht, is a Belgian football club from the Brussels Capital Region. ... The 1996 Summer Olympics, formally known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and informally known as the Centennial Olympics, were held in 1996 in Atlanta, United States. ... Hotlanta redirects here. ...

He was purchased by Chelsea in April 1997 for £2.25m million - a club record paid for a teenager at the time. During his time there, the team won the FA Cup and Charity Shield in 2000, and reached the FA Cup finals in 2002. He faced competition from Graeme Le Saux during his seven-year spell, but played over 200 games for Chelsea. His acrobatic celebrations were a highlight and loved by the Stamford Bridge faithful. He scored some pretty good goals for Chelsea, his last coming away to Leicester in the 2003-04 season. The signing of Wayne Bridge saw Celestine start only four Premier League games for Chelsea in 2004-05 - their Premiership winning year. Chelsea Football Club (also known as The Blues or previously The Pensioners) are an English professional football club based in west London. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... The FA Community Shield (formerly the Charity Shield) is an English association football trophy. ... Graeme Pierre Le Saux (born October 17, 1968 in Jersey) is a retired English footballer who played as a left back, though he was also skillful and pacy enough to move into midfield or even the left wing. ... The 2003-2004 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England. ... Wayne Michael Bridge (born August 5, 1980) is an English football defender, who currently plays left back for Chelsea. ... The 2004-2005 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England. ...

He played briefly for Nigeria in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, before quitting international football aged 23. He also made a brief comeback appearance for his country in the 2004 African Nations Cup in Tunisia, but was sent home along with Portsmouth striker, Aiyegbeni Yakubu for "indiscipline". Qualifying countries The 2002 FIFA World Cup, the 17th staging of the World Cup, was held in South Korea and Japan from May 31 to June 30. ... The 2004 African Nations Cup was the 24th edition of the African Nations Cup, the Tunisia. ... Portsmouth Football Club are an English football club based in the south coast city of Portsmouth. ... Aiyegbeni Yakubu (born November 22, 1982 in Benin City, Nigeria), often known as Yakubu, is a Nigerian football (soccer) player, who currently plays for Middlesbrough F.C. He weighs 81 kg and is 1. ...

In January 2005, Babayaro left Stamford Bridge to join Newcastle United where he has established himself as first choice left back. Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham that is home to Chelsea Football Club. ... Newcastle United Football Club (also known as The Magpies or The Toon) are an English professional football team based in Newcastle upon Tyne. ...

In September 2006, Babayaro was given a three match ban by the Football Association for slapping Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt in the face while Liverpool took a corner. The slap wasn't seen by the referee but later videos showed Celestine Babayaro punch the Dutchman in the face. Babayaro accepted the allegations and apologised to Dirk Kuyt. The Football Association (The FA) is the governing body of football in England and the Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. ... Liverpool Football Club are an English professional football club based in Liverpool, who play in the Premier League; they are historically the most successful club in English football, having won more trophies than any other English club. ... Dirk Kuyt, officially spelled Dirk Kuijt[1] ( (help· info)), (born July 22, 1980, in Katwijk aan Zee) is a Dutch professional football player, who currently plays for English club Liverpool FC. A fan favourite, he plays in the position of striker and is known for his high work-rate and...

Due to a number of hamstring injuries and suspensions, the tabloids have linked Newcastle with a whole host of new left backs under the claims that former manager Glenn Roeder was unhappy with Babayaro's inconsistency. These targets include West Brom's Paul Robinson, former Southampton player Gareth Bale and Chelsea's Wayne Bridge.

On February 10, 2007, after the 2-1 win over Liverpool F.C., former Newcastle United manager Glenn Roeder revealed that just 12 hours before kick off, Babayaro had called Roeder saying his younger brother, David Babayaro, had died from tuberculosis. Despite this, Babayaro insisted he would still play and put in a solid performance which earned him praise from Newcastle fans and particularly by Roeder. This fine form continued into United's 4-2 victory against Zulte Waregem.^[1] is the 41st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Liverpool Football Club are an English professional football club based in Liverpool, who play in the Premier League; they are historically the most successful club in English football, having won more trophies than any other English club. ... For the Australian soccer club see Newcastle United (Australia). ... Glenn Victor Roeder, (born December 13, 1955 in Woodford Essex), is an English football manager and former player. ... Tuberculosis (abbreviated as TB for tubercle bacillus) is a common and deadly infectious disease caused by mycobacteria, mainly Mycobacterium tuberculosis. ... S.V. Zulte Waregem is a Belgian football club based in Waregem, West Flanders. ...

Trivia

• One of Babayaro's brothers was also a professional footballer. Emmanuel Babayaro, a goalkeeper who was also in Nigeria's 1996 Olympic Gold Medal winning team.
• Babayaro is well known for the unique backflips he performs after each goal he scores.

Emmanuel Babayaro (born December 26, 1976 in Kaduna) is a Nigerian footballer. ... Final results for the Football competition at the 1996 Summer Olympics held in Birmingham, Alabama; Washington, D.C; Orlando, Florida; Miami, Florida; and Athens, Georgia. ...

References

External links

• Celestine Babayaro career stats at Soccerbase

	Nigeria squad - 1998 FIFA World Cup
1 Rufai | 2 Oparaku | 3 Babayaro | 4 Kanu | 5 Okechukwu | 6 West | 7 George | 8 Adepoju | 9 Yekini | 10 Okocha | 11 Lawal | 12 W. Okpara | 13 Babangida | 14 Amokachi | 15 Oliseh | 16 Okafor | 17 Eguavoen | 18 Oruma | 19 Iroha | 20 Ikpeba | 21 G. Okpara | 22 Baruwa | Coach: Milutinović Soccerbase is a web-based database of football-related data. ... Olivier Doll (born June 9, 1973) is a Belgian footballer who, as of 2005, is playing for KSC Lokeren. ... The Belgian professional football awards is a collection of awards given at the end of each season since 1983. ... Emile Lokonda Mpenza (born July 4, 1978) is a Belgian football striker currently on the books of Hamburger SV in Germany. ... Godwin Okpara (born September 20, 1972 in Lagos) is a former football defender. ... The Belgian Ebony Shoe (French: Soulier débène) is a football award given annually to the player from Africa or from African origins who is thought to have been the best in the Jupiler League. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Emile Lokonda Mpenza (born July 4, 1978) is a Belgian football striker currently on the books of Hamburger SV in Germany. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nigeria. ... First international Nigeria 2 - 0 Sierra Leone (Lagos, Nigeria; 8 October 1949) Biggest win Nigeria 10 - 1 Benin (Lagos, Nigeria; 28 November 1959) Biggest defeat Ghana 7 - 0 Nigeria (Accra, Ghana; 1 June 1955) World Cup Appearances 3 (First in 1994) Best result Round 2, 1994 and 1998 African Nations... Qualifying countries The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th staging of the World Cup, was held in France from June 10 to July 12 after 60 years to celebrate the third edition scheduled in 1938. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nigeria. ... Peter Rufai (born August 24, 1963 in Lagos) is a former football goalkeeper from Nigeria. ... Mobi Oparaku (born 1 December 1976) is a Nigerian football player. ... Nwankwo Kanu (born August 1, 1976 in Owerri, Nigeria), usually known simply as Kanu, is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for the Nigerian national team and for English club Portsmouth. ... Uche Alozie Okechukwu (born September 27, 1967 in Lagos) is a former football defender from Nigeria. ... Taribo West (born March 26, 1974 in Ajegunle, Lagos) is a Nigerian football defender. ... Finidi George (born April 15, 1971 in Port Harcourt) is a Nigerian former footballer. ... Mutiu Adepoju (born December 22, 1970 in Ibadan) is a Nigerian former football midfielder who played for several European clubs and mostly in Spain in the 1990s and 2000s and was a member of the Nigeria national team in three World Cups. ... Rashidi Yekini (born October 23, 1964 in Kaduna) is a former football striker from Nigeria. ... Augustine Azuka (Jay-Jay) Okocha (born August 14, 1973 in Enugu) is a Nigerian football midfielder who currently plays in the Qatar league for Qatar SC, a move that was completed in July 2006. ... Garba Lawal (born May 22, 1974 in Kaduna) is a football striker from Nigeria. ... William Okpara (born in Lagos, May 7, 1968) was a former Nigerian footballer, in goalkeeper role. ... Tijjani Babangida (born September 25, 1973 in Kaduna) is a former football winger from Nigeria. ... Daniel Owefin Amokachi (born December 30, 1972 in Kaduna) is a former football striker from Nigeria. ... Sunday Oliseh (born September 14, 1974 in Abavo, Port Harcourt) is a former Nigerian footballer. ... Uchenna Kizito Okafor, often shortened to Uche Okafor (born August 8, 1967 in Owerri) is a former football defender who played 34 international matches for Nigeria. ... Augustine Eguavoen (born August 19, 1965 in Benin City) is the current coach of the Nigerian national football team (the Super Eagles). ... Wilson Oruma (born December 30, 1976 in Warri) is a football midfielder from Nigeria. ... Benedict Iroha (born November 29, 1969 in Aba) is a former Nigerian football (soccer) defender. ... Victor Ikpeba (born June 12, 1973 in Benin City) is a football striker from Nigeria. ... Godwin Okpara (born September 20, 1972 in Lagos) is a former football defender. ... Abiodun Baruwa (born in Abuja, November 16, 1974) was a former Nigerian footballer in goalkeeper role. ... Velibor Bora Milutinović (Serbian Cyrillic: Велибор Бора Милутиновић) (born September 7, 1944 in Bajina BaÅ¡ta, Serbia, then Yugoslavia) is a Serbian football coach, and the only person to have coached five different teams at the World Cup: Mexico (1986), Costa Rica (1990), the United States (1994), Nigeria (1998), and China (2002). ...

	Nigeria squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup
1 Shorunmu | 2 Yobo | 3 Babayaro | 4 Kanu | 5 Okoronkwo | 6 West | 7 Ikedia | 8 Adepoju | 9 Ogbeche | 10 Okocha | 11 Lawal | 12 Ejide | 13 Afolabi | 14 Udeze | 15 Christopher | 16 Sodje | 17 Aghahowa | 18 Akwuegbu | 19 Ejiofor | 20 Obiorah | 21 Utaka | 22 Enyeama | 23 Opabunmi | Coach: Onigbinde Image File history File links Flag_of_Nigeria. ... First international Nigeria 2 - 0 Sierra Leone (Lagos, Nigeria; 8 October 1949) Biggest win Nigeria 10 - 1 Benin (Lagos, Nigeria; 28 November 1959) Biggest defeat Ghana 7 - 0 Nigeria (Accra, Ghana; 1 June 1955) World Cup Appearances 3 (First in 1994) Best result Round 2, 1994 and 1998 African Nations... Qualifying countries The 2002 FIFA World Cup, the 17th staging of the World Cup, was held in South Korea and Japan from May 31 to June 30. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nigeria. ... Ike Shorunmu Ike Shorunmu (born October 16, 1967 in Lagos) is a football goalkeeper from Nigeria. ... Joseph Ikpo Yobo (born September 6, 1980 in Kano, Nigeria) is a Nigerian football player currently with Everton F.C. He joined Everton on loan from Olympique Marseille in July 2002, with a £1M fee required to register the player, becoming the first signing of new manager David Moyes. ... Nwankwo Kanu (born August 1, 1976 in Owerri, Nigeria), usually known simply as Kanu, is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for the Nigerian national team and for English club Portsmouth. ... Isaac Okoronkwo (born 1 May 1978) is a Nigerian professional football player who currently plays as a defender for FC Moskva. ... Taribo West (born March 26, 1974 in Ajegunle, Lagos) is a Nigerian football defender. ... Pius Nelson Ikedia (born July 11, 1980 in Lagos) is a football winger from Nigeria. ... Mutiu Adepoju (born December 22, 1970 in Ibadan) is a Nigerian former football midfielder who played for several European clubs and mostly in Spain in the 1990s and 2000s and was a member of the Nigeria national team in three World Cups. ... Bartholomew Ogbeche (born October 1, 1984) is a Nigerian football player. ... Augustine Azuka (Jay-Jay) Okocha (born August 14, 1973 in Enugu) is a Nigerian football midfielder who currently plays in the Qatar league for Qatar SC, a move that was completed in July 2006. ... Garba Lawal (born May 22, 1974 in Kaduna) is a football striker from Nigeria. ... Austin Ejide (born 8 April 1984 in Onitsha, Nigeria) is a Nigerian football goalkeeper. ... Rabiu Afolabi (born 18 April 1980 in Osobo) is a Nigerian football player. ... Ifeanyi Udeze (born 21 July 1980) is a Nigerian football player. ... Justice Christopher (born 24 December 1981) is a Nigerian football player. ... Efetobore Sodje (born October 5, 1972 in Greenwich) is a footballer who is currently a free agent. ... Julius Aghahowa (born February 12, 1982) is a football striker from Nigeria. ... Benedict Akwuegbu (born 3 November 1974) is a Nigerian football player. ... hi, how are u doing, eric ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... John Utaka (born January 8, 1982) is a Nigerian football player. ... Vincent Enyeama (born August 29, 1982) is a football goalkeeper from Nigeria. ... Femi Opabunmi (born 3 March 1985) is a Nigerian football player. ... Festus Onigbinde (born 1942 in Modakeke) is a Nigerian football manager. ...