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Elkanah Onyeali

1939 – 2008

Nigerian footballer

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About Elkanah Onyeali

Lived 1939 – 2008 (aged 69). Elkanah Onyeali was a Nigerian association football player.

Elkanah Bollington Onyeali (7 June 1939 – 11 August 2008) was a Nigerian professional footballer who played as a centre forward for Tranmere Rovers, scoring 8 goals in 13 games in the Football League during the 1960–61 season. Onyeali was one of the first African players to play in England, and the first black player to play professionally on Merseyside.

He came to England in 1960, to study at Birkenhead Technical College, and was offered a contract by local club Tranmere Rovers. However, he was released after one season as the new manager did not want to accommodate a part-time player. Between September 1961 and October 1962, Oneyali played for Prescot Cables whilst studying at Liverpool University and was the club's top scorer during the 1961–62 season. He returned to Nigeria at the end of his studies.

He later studied in the United States before returning to Nigeria, where he coached teams including the Trojans and the Spartans.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Also known as
Elkanah Bollington Onyeali

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Elkanah Onyeali's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Elkanah Onyeali?

Nigerian footballer (1939-2008)

When was Elkanah Onyeali born?

Elkanah Onyeali was born on 7 June 1939 in Port Harcourt.

When did Elkanah Onyeali die?

Elkanah Onyeali died on 11 August 2008 in Nigeria.

What was Elkanah Onyeali's occupation?

Elkanah Onyeali was an association football player.

What nationality was Elkanah Onyeali?

Elkanah Onyeali was Nigerian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Elkanah Onyeali

· Wikidata: Q5364186

· DBpedia: Elkanah Onyeali

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Elkanah Onyeali. https://biography.guide/elkanah-onyeali/

MLA: "Elkanah Onyeali." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/elkanah-onyeali/.

Chicago: "Elkanah Onyeali." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/elkanah-onyeali/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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