Ime Okon
South African soccer player (born 2004)
Ime Daniel Okon is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Hannover 96 and the South Africa national team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ime Daniel Okon[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 20 February 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | South Africa | ||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Hannover 96 | ||
| Number | 20 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023–2025 | SuperSport United | 43 | (1) |
| 2025– | Hannover 96 | 25 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2025– | South Africa | 9 | (1) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 18 May 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 11 June 2026 | |||
Ime Daniel Okon (born 20 February 2004) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Hannover 96 and the South Africa national team.
Early life
Okon was born in 2004 in South Africa. He attended Florida Park High School in South Africa.[2]
Club career
Okon started his career with South African side SuperSport United.[3] He joined German club Hannover 96 ahead of the 2025–26 season on a four-year contract.[4]
International career
Okon made his debut for the South Africa national team on 4 June 2025 in the opening match of the 2025 COSAFA Cup against Mozambique.[5] He scored his first goal three days later in the second tournament match against Zimbabwe.[6]
Okon represented South Africa at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[7]
Personal life
Okon is a native of Florida, South Africa. He was born to a Nigerian father and South African mother.[8] He is the brother of South African sprinter Udeme Okon.[9]
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | ||
| SuperSport United F.C. | 2023–24 | Premiership | 23 | 1 |
| 2024–25 | 20 | 0 | ||
| Hannover 96 | 2025–26 | 2. Bundesliga | 25 | 2 |
| Career total | 68 | 3 | ||
International
- As of match played 11 June 2026
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 2025 | 5 | 1 |
| 2026 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 9 | 1 | |
International goals
- Scores and results list South Africa's goal tally first.[10]
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 7 June 2025 | Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2025 COSAFA Cup |
References
- ↑ "Squad List FIFA World Cup 2026" (PDF). FIFA. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "The Emergence of Ime Okon: A Rising Star in South African Football". capetown.today. 16 March 2024.
- ↑ "Ime Okon key to Supersport United's defensive prowess". soccernews24.co.za.
- ↑ "Hannover holt "spannenden" Okon aus Südafrika". Kicker (in German). 1 July 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ↑ "Match Report of South Africa vs Mozambique". globalsportsarchive.com. Global Sports Archive. 4 June 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ↑ "Match Report of South Africa vs Zimbabwe". globalsportsarchive.com. Global Sports Archive. 7 June 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ↑ "Bafana Bafana name Hannover defender in World Cup squad". Bulinews. 27 May 2026.
- ↑ "Ime Okon - from high school to Bafana call-up". snl24.com. 23 August 2023.
- ↑ Luthuli, Lusanda (2 September 2024). "Ime Okon Hails Brother Udeme's Stunning Gold At World Champs". SNL. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ↑ "Ime Okon". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
External links
- Ime Okon at Soccerway