Moutari Momo

At 15, Mutari Momo went to Italy for the Viareggio Cup. Footy-Africa reported that he was among the best defenders at the January 2025 tournament, and European scouts took notice — including Udinese, where he trained a year later.

The route there was unusual. Momo, born in Efakwu, Nigeria, did not come through a Nigerian academy but through Mavlon FC in Uzbekistan, where he was registered from July 2024. That is where the Viareggio invitation came from, and where Istra 1961 found him.

The move to Croatia was completed on 16 January 2026, his eighteenth birthday. Istra signed him from Mavlon for an undisclosed fee on a contract running to 30 June 2030, and presented him on 22 January. He wears number 66.

A centre-back who can also play on the left, right-footed, he stands 196 cm and weighs 82 kg. What he has not yet had is minutes. On 16 February 2026 Istra placed him on a dual registration with NK Uljanik Pula, their partner club in the Croatian second tier, and he made one league appearance there in the 2025/26 season without scoring. Records of his involvement with Istra's first team over the same period are minimal, a consequence of arriving mid-season.

He has no caps at any level for Nigeria, and did not represent the country's youth sides before moving to Europe. Beyond the Viareggio notice, there are no trophies or individual awards on his record.