Razak Omotoyossi

Razak Omotoyossi (born 8 October 1985) is a former professional footballer who played as a striker for JA Cotonou.

Born in Nigeria, he appeared for the Benin national team at international level.

He played in Nigeria, Egypt, Sweden, Saudi Arabia and France for club level.

Born in Lagos, Omotoyossi started his career in his native Nigeria, but was nearly derailed when the Nigeria Football Federation slammed a five-year ban on him for allegedly assaulting a referee during a Premier League game between his club, Sunshine Stars and visiting Enyimba.

He had though already left to play in neighbouring Benin.

He later switched to Beninese citizenship the same year.

He started his professional career in Benin with JS Pobè.

Omotoyossi signed for Moldovan side FC Sheriff in November 2005.

On 10 June 2005, he scored in the Group A 1–1 draw with Australia at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands.

It was Benin's first-ever goal at a world finals.

"I always want to score goals, every time I go out on the pitch."

he said at the time.

On 26 July 2006, he scored a 92nd minute equalizing goal for Sheriff against Spartak Moscow in the second qualifying round of the 2006–07 UEFA Champions League.

In March 2007 he went on trial with Israeli Premier League side Hapoel Kfar Saba.

He scored in a Toto Cup game, but did not sign for them as he found the challenge of the Swedish Allsvenskan more promising.

Omotoyossi signed for Helsingborgs IF in summer 2007.

In the role of Henrik Larsson's strike partner, Omotoyossi finished the 2007 season as joint top scorer having scored 14 goals in 23 games.

In the 2007–08 UEFA Cup, he scored twice in the first two qualifying rounds.

His first goal came in the first leg of the first qualifying round home win over Estonian Meistriliiga side Narva Trans on 19 July 2007, and he then scored in the second qualifying round, second leg, a 3–0 home win over League of Ireland Premier Division side Drogheda United.

He added a further four goals in the group stage as Helsingborg finished second in Group H.

Omotoyossi scored six goals in six matches: three goals against SC Heerenveen, two against Austria Wien and one against the Galatasaray which made him top scorer alongside teammate Henrik Larsson and Luca Toni of Bayern Munich.

His six goals were critical in Helsingborgs booking their passage to the last 32.

With six goals in a total of eight games, Omotoyossi finished as joint fourth top scorer in the tournament.

Despite being a top-scorer in Helsingborg.

He also appeared that year in Italy's Guerin Sportivo as one of the world's top 50 stars for the very near future.

This record caught the eye of Eredivisie side SC Heerenveen, and it was rumoured that they wanted the striker as a replacement for Brazilian striker Afonso Alves who was set to leave for English side Middlesbrough.

After the January transfer window had shut, it was revealed that Omotoyossi had declined a move to Dutch Eredivisie side, FC Groningen, in a deal that would have been worth $2.5 million.

On 7 February 2007, he scored in a 2–1 friendly defeat to Senegal in Rouen, France.

He played in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, scoring one goal in qualification - in the 4–1 home win over Togo on 19 June 2007 as Benin finished second in Group 9 to qualify for the finals in Ghana.

In July 2008 Omotoyossi signed for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia for $3 million.

He had a short stint at the Arabian club in which he appeared in nine games, scoring four goals in the 2008–09 season as Al-Nassr finished 5th in the Saudi Professional League.

Then in the finals, where Benin finished last place in Group B he scored a late consolation goal as Benin lost 4–1 to Ivory Coast on 25 January 2008.

On 9 June 2009, Omotoyoissi signed a three-year contract with French Ligue 2 side FC Metz.

He scored twice in 8 starts and 14 as a substitute player as Metz finished fourth in the 2009–10 season, just missing out on promotion to Ligue 1.

On 30 March 2011, Swedish club GAIS confirmed that they had signed Omotoyossi, he was signed on a short-term contract until July.

On 21 July 2011, Omotoyossi signed a short-term contract with Syrianska FC where he only played 5 matches before leaving to Egypt's Zamalek SC.

On 15 September 2011, Omotoyossi signed a three-year contract with Egyptian club Zamalek SC.

He made his debut for the team in a league match against El-Entag El-Harby.

After leaving Moroccan club Safi in 2015, Omotoyossi was without a club for four years, before signing for USS Kraké in February 2019.

Omotoyossi has represented Benin at under-20 and full international levels.