Ovie Ejeheri finally made his FC Midtjylland debut on Sunday, stepping between the posts for the Danish champions’ 2-2 draw with Sønderjyske at the MCH Arena — six months after the former Arsenal goalkeeper trained with Eric Chelle’s Super Eagles in London.
The 23-year-old was thrown in after a goalkeeping crisis hit Mike Tullberg’s side in the build-up to the game. First-choice Elias Olafsson and back-up Nordin Bakker were both ruled out after picking up injuries in training, and Ejeheri — who had been named in 14 first-team squads this season without getting off the bench — finally got his chance.
Ovie Ejeheri beaten twice as Midtjylland fight back
Sønderjyske struck first, with Anders Bergholt firing the visitors ahead after just two minutes, Marcus Bundgaard providing the assist. Midtjylland levelled in the 24th minute when Sønderjyske defender Maxime Soulas turned the ball into his own net, but Bergholt restored the lead in the 56th minute, this time set up by Stefan Velkov.
Ejeheri was beaten twice, both times by Bergholt, but he kept his side in the contest and Sofus Johannesen rescued a point with a 78th-minute equaliser. The draw kept Midtjylland’s unbeaten start to the league season intact, and the point came despite the hosts twice having to fight back from behind.
The appearance was a long time coming for a goalkeeper who has waited patiently since joining the Danish club in 2024. Ejeheri spent last season on loan at FC Fredericia, where a serious injury that required surgery limited him to just two appearances, and he has had to bide his time since returning to Herning.
From Hale End to Herning: Ejeheri’s long road
Born in Greenwich, London, to a Nigerian father and a Ugandan mother, Ejeheri came through Arsenal’s Hale End academy and spent 13 years with the Gunners before leaving on a free transfer in 2024. He signed a five-year deal with Midtjylland but has found first-team minutes hard to come by in Denmark.
He is not the only Nigerian in the Midtjylland setup. Friday Etim, the Danish Superliga Player of the Month for September, started against Sønderjyske, while Joseph Okuaghare, Julius Emefile, Stanley Iheanacho and fellow goalkeeper Mark Ugboh have all been involved in first-team squads this season.
The Super Eagles dream
Ejeheri has already made his international intentions clear. In May, Chelle handed him a surprise call-up to train with the Super Eagles ahead of their Unity Cup opener against Zimbabwe in London, although he was left out of the matchday squad once the invited players arrived.
The London-born goalkeeper, who was once invited to an England youth training camp in 2020, has committed his future to Nigeria and said in July that representing the Super Eagles would be the biggest achievement of his career. He knows the competition is fierce, with Stanley Nwabali established as Chelle’s first choice and Maduka Okoye and Arthur Okonkwo also in the frame.
Ejeheri was not named in Chelle’s 24-man squad for Tanzania as the Super Eagles camp in Uyo prepares for Friday’s qualifier, but a first senior appearance for his club puts him firmly back on the radar. His next chance to build on it comes when Midtjylland travel to Brøndby on 23 November. For more on the Super Eagles’ preparations, check today’s predictions.
Photos: MCH Arena photo by T-Stone, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) — collage by SportsBuddy.
