Striker Stephen Gopey has made a forced return to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) from Russia-invaded Ukraine.
The 22-year-old left Nigerian top-flight side Wikki Tourists to join first division side FC Inhulets Petrove on a three-year-deal back in 2021.
Stephen Gopey has left Ukraine because of the war and returned to Wikki Tourists.
— Adepoju Tobi Samuel
Gopey joined FC Inhulets Petrove last year from Wikki Tourists.pic.twitter.com/TzL43oHtsj
(@OgaNlaMedia) March 11, 2022
However, the Russian invasion of Ukraine which led to the suspension of football activities until further notice last month, left the former Rivers United forward with no other option but to return back to the country.
He has now opted to pitch his tent with former side Wikki Tourists of Bauchi for the rest of the campaign.
This will be Stephen’s second sojourn at the club having scored five goals in his first six games prior to his departure last season.
In Ukraine, he scored on his debut in a 2-1 defeat away at Shakhtar Donetsk last July and has a tally of two goals from 16 appearances so far this season.
Wikki’s game against Katsina United might come too soon for Stephen, but the bulky forward could be in line for his second debut against Enyimba in Bauchi later this month.
