Jamilu Collins


Jamilu Collins is a Nigerian professional football left-back who plays for German club SC Paderborn 07 and the Nigeria national team.

Club career

Rijeka and loans

Born in Kaduna, Collins spent his youth years with Abuja Football College Academy. He was one of several players who moved from Abuja to the HNK Rijeka youth team in mid-2012. In October 2012, Collins signed his first professional contract with HNK Rijeka.
In August 2013, he was loaned to NK Pomorac in Druga HNL, where he collected 29 caps. In the following season, he played for HNK Rijeka's reserve side in Croatia's Treća HNL, where he was capped on 24 occasions. In May 2015, he signed a new one-year contract with the club, with an option to extend it for an additional year.
In June 2015, Rijeka sent Collins on loan to NK Krka in the Slovenian PrvaLiga, where he made 13 appearances before returning to Rijeka in January 2016. The following month, Collins was loaned to HNK Šibenik in Druga HNL, where he was a regular starter. Following return from the loan, Rijeka extended Collins' contract until June 2017. He was immediately loaned to fellow Prva HNL club NK Istra 1961.

SC Paderborn

On 6 September 2017, free agent Collins joined 3. Liga side SC Paderborn 07 on a two-year contract following trials at the club. He scored his first goal for the club two years later with a 35-yard shot against Bayern Munich in a 3-2 defeat.

International career

Collins received his first call-up to the Nigeria national team for an Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against Seychelles on 11 September 2018. He made his debut a day later in a friendly against Liberia. After talking up his qualities, coach Gernot Rohr handed the 24-year-old his competitive debut in the next Afcon qualifying fixture against Libya in Uyo. Nigeria defeated their visitors 4–0 and the left-back was impressive, coming close to marking his Super Eagles debut with a goal. He featured in the reverse fixture in Sfax, Tunisia, which ended in a 3–2 victory for Nigeria to top Group E.

Career statistics

International