Israel Ayuma

Israel Ayuma's football education began not in an academy but on the streets of Warri, in Delta State, before he joined Mavlon FC's youth setup in Lagos. His time there was interrupted by a groin injury with a twisted nerve that kept him out for more than a year, yet he recovered fully before Mavlon received sixteen offers for him, including from Juventus. He chose Istra 1961 instead, signing for the Croatian club in August 2023.

Ayuma had to wait roughly a year and a half for his senior debut, starting a friendly against Maribor in January 2025 before featuring in the HNL against Dinamo Zagreb. In the summer of 2026 he moved on loan to Primeira Liga side Marítimo, where he has scored once in five appearances so far.

His career high point to date came with Nigeria's U-20 side, the Flying Eagles, whom he joined in May 2025 for a game against Morocco. He went on to be part of the squad that won bronze at the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, beating the hosts on penalties in the third-place match — Ayuma converted one of the spot-kicks himself.