| Tega Ikoba | |
| Fullname: | Tega Ikoba |
| Birth Date: | 14 August 2003 |
| Birth Place: | Bettendorf, Iowa, United States |
| Height: | [1] |
| Currentclub: | Portland Timbers |
| Clubnumber: | 17 |
| Youthyears1: | 2018–2021 |
| Youthclubs1: | Portland Timbers |
| Collegeyears1: | 2021 |
| College1: | North Carolina Tar Heels |
| Collegecaps1: | 18 |
| Collegegoals1: | 6 |
| Years1: | 2020– |
| Clubs1: | Portland Timbers 2 |
| Caps1: | 45 |
| Goals1: | 9 |
| Years2: | 2022– |
| Clubs2: | Portland Timbers |
| Caps2: | 6 |
| Goals2: | 1 |
| Years3: | 2024 |
| Clubs3: | → Indy Eleven (loan) |
| Caps3: | 9 |
| Goals3: | 1 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2023– |
| Nationalteam1: | United States U23 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 5 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 2 |
| Club-Update: | July 25, 2024 |
Tega Ikoba (born August 14, 2003), is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Major League Soccer club Portland Timbers.
After playing with the Portland Timbers academy from 2018,[2] [3] Ikoba appeared for Portland's USL Championship side Portland Timbers 2 on September 2, 2020, as a 57th-minute substitute in a 2–1 loss to Sacramento Republic.[4]
On January 11, 2022, Ikoba signed for the Portland Timbers as a homegrown player.[5]
Ikoba made his MLS debut on May 14, 2022, against Sporting Kansas City. He scored his first MLS goal in a 5–1 loss against Atlanta United FC on March 18, 2023.
On March 22, 2024, it was announced that Ikoba would join USL Championship side Indy Eleven on loan for the 2024 season, with the option for Portland to recall him throughout the season.[6]
Ikoba made his debut for Indy Eleven on March 23, 2024, coming on as a substitute for Tyler Gibson in the 61st minute in a 1–1 draw against Sacramento Republic.[7] He made his first start for the Indianapolis-based club in a 2–1 home defeat to Detroit City FC on March 30.[8]
Ikoba scored his first goal for the Eleven on April 13, 2024, scoring the team's first goal of the match in a 4–2 home defeat to the Charleston Battery.[9]
The Timbers recalled Ikoba from his loan on July 3.[10] He scored a hat-trick for Portland Timbers 2 in MLS NEXT Pro on July 27, in a 5–2 home victory over Sporting Kansas City II.[11] His performance won him the MLS NEXT Pro Player of the Matchweek award.[12]
Born in the United States, Ikoba is of Nigerian descent.[13]