// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs Clinton Jephta a jazz pianist? Does he jephta chance to play?
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Clinton Degol Jephta | ||
| Date of birth | 21 October 2006 (19) | ||
| Position | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Inter Turku | ||
| Number | 16 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023–2024 | Niger Tornadoes | 36 | (8) |
| 2024–2025 | Enyimba | 8 | (3) |
| 2025–2026 | Niger Tornadoes | 12 | (2) |
| 2026– | Inter Turku | 14 | (2) |
| 2026– | Inter Turku II | 1 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2025 | Nigeria U20 | 6 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Clinton Degol Jephta (born 21 October 2006) is a Nigerian professional footballer who currently plays as a winger for the Finnish Veikkausliiga team Inter Turku.[1]
Known for his pace, dribbling ability and attacking instinct, Jephta emerged as one of the promising young players in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) before gaining international exposure with Nigeria's U-20 national team, the Flying Eagles.[2][3]
Club career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Jephta started his football career in Nigeria's grassroots football system, where his pace and ability to play in wide attacking areas quickly distinguished him among his peers. His performances at youth level helped him earn a move to Nigeria Nationwide League One side FC One Rocket, where he quickly progressed to Nigeria Premier League side Niger Tornadoes. After spending one season with Niger Tornadoes, he joined Nigeria's most successful football club Enyimba[4], before returning to Niger Tornadoes a year later on a free transfer. In May 2024, Jephta won the NPFL player of the month.[5]
In March 2026, after trials with Strømsgodset IF, HJK, and FC Inter Turku, Jephta officially joined Inter on a 4-month loan contract with an option to buy.[6] He made his debut for Inter in a Finnish League Cup match against FC Lahti on February 14, before his transfer was finalised.[7][8] On May 9, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2-0 win over FF Jaro.[9] Following the successful loan spell, his contract was made permanent until December 2028,[6] for a five-figure transfer fee.[10]
International career
[edit]Nigeria U-20
[edit]Jephta's performances at club level earned him a place in Nigeria's U-20 national team. He was part of the squad that competed in the 2024 WAFU B U-20 Championship, where Nigeria delivered a strong performance and reached the final. During the tournament, Jephta was widely regarded as one of the standout performers in the Nigerian team, contributing significantly to the team's attacking play.[11]
Following regional success, he was included in Nigeria's squad for the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in 2025. The Flying Eagles eventually finished third in the tournament after defeating host nation Egypt in a penalty shootout. Jephta expressed confidence during the competition that the team had the ambition and quality to challenge for the continental title, reflecting the belief within the squad during the campaign.[12][13][14]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of 5 August 2026[15]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Niger Tornadoes | 2023–24 | NPFL | 36 | 8 | – | – | – | 36 | 8 | |||
| Enyimba | 2024–25 | NPFL | 8 | 3 | – | – | 2[c] | 0 | 10 | 3 | ||
| Niger Tornadoes | 2025–26 | NPFL | 12 | 2 | – | – | – | 12 | 2 | |||
| HJK | 2026 | Veikkausliiga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Inter Turku | 2026 | Veikkausliiga | 14 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4[d] | 3 | 22 | 6 |
| Inter Turku II | 2026 | Ykkönen | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | 1 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 71 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 83 | 20 | ||
- ↑ Includes Finnish Cup
- ↑ Includes Finnish League Cup
- ↑ Appearances in CAF Confederation Cup
- ↑ Appearances in UEFA Conference League
References
[edit]- ↑ "Tilastot #16 Jephta, Clinton Degol". Veikkausliiga (in Finnish). Retrieved 2026-07-24.
- ↑ "Flying Eagles to Egypt: Oliseh, Jephta and Kparobo lead star-studded U20 team for Africa Cup of Nations". Pulse Sports Nigeria. 2025-04-17. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
- ↑ Adesanya, Taiwo (2024-05-11). "Clinton Jephta, Ogunbote win NPFL Player, Coach of the Month award". Daily Post. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
- ↑ Adesanya, Taiwo (2024-09-10). "NPFL: Jephta reflects on Enyimba debut against Heartland". Daily Post. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
- ↑ Adesanya, Taiwo (2024-05-11). "Clinton Jephta, Ogunbote win NPFL Player, Coach of the Month award". Daily Post. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
- 1 2 Ikkeläjärvi, Tuukka (2026-07-29). "Haastattelu: Clinton Jephta". SuomiFutis (in Finnish). Retrieved 2026-07-31.
- ↑ Hirvonen, Juho (2026-01-22). "HJK Klubi 04 valmistautuu Ykkösliigacupin avaukseen". HJK Helsinki (in Finnish). Retrieved 2026-07-31.
- ↑ niko (2026-04-23). "Clinton Jephta FC Interiin lainalle". FC Inter (in Finnish). Retrieved 2026-05-23.
- ↑ Kurtti, Henri (2026-05-09). "Inter nousee suvereenilla esityksellä sarjakärjeksi!". FC Inter (in Finnish). Retrieved 2026-05-23.
- ↑ Rahat vai menestys? Inter luottaa, että tällä kertaa se voi saada molemmat, Turun Sanomat, Harri Ahola, 6 August 2026
- ↑ "WAFU B U20 Championship Nigeria 3 Niger 1: Jephta at the double as Flying Eagles qualify for Afcon". AllNigeriaSoccer. 2024-10-27. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
- ↑ Amos, Kobor (2025-04-18). "2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations: Bameyi, Jephta, lead 22 others to Egypt". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
- ↑ Dairo, Fisayo (2024-10-28). "WAFU B U20: Nigeria outclass Niger to set up Ghana final". ACLSports. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
- ↑ "Top 3 Flying Eagles stars from 2024 WAFU Cup triumph". Score Nigeria. 2024-11-01. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
- ↑ Clinton Jephta at Soccerway