Eddie Ekiyor, new SQBB center, aims to restart his career in Betclic ELITE

Eddie Ekiyor joins SQBB for the 2025-2026 Betclic ELITE season, according to L’Aisne Nouvelle. Having come through the prestigious Canadian university program at Carleton, the 27-year-old Canadian center hopes to regain momentum in a promising career that was interrupted by an ACL tear in spring 2024.

A disrupted but experience-rich journey

Born in Ottawa, Canada’s capital, Eddie Ekiyor (6’9″) represented his country at the 2014 U17 World Cup, where he faced the French team including Stéphane Gombauld and Jonathan Jeanne. In 2016, he joined the Carleton Ravens program, a true powerhouse in Canadian university basketball. There, he played alongside Kaza Kajami-Keane and Yasiin Joseph.

After a brilliant athletic career (two-time U SPORTS champion, two-time All-Canadian), he finished his university career with a championship and Final Tournament MVP award in 2019. However, a month later, he faced sexual assault charges. Though acquitted two years later, he never played for Carleton again and his high-level career had to be put on hold.

From Middle East to Portugal, via CEBL

His professional career truly began in 2021-2022 in Georgia. The following year, Ekiyor stood out in Israel’s second division with Maccabi Ma’ale Adumim, averaging 20.5 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. This caught Sporting Portugal’s attention, where he confirmed his potential in 2023-2024: 18.3 points on 64.1% shooting and 5.8 rebounds in the Portuguese league, 19.1 points and 6.9 rebounds in FIBA Europe Cup.

His rise was abruptly halted in April 2024 when he suffered an ACL tear after an unfortunate fall on a courtside photographer during the derby against Benfica Lisbon. He couldn’t finish the European season or capitalize on interest from BCL clubs.

A return through CEBL before Betclic ELITE

After lengthy rehabilitation, Eddie Ekiyor resumed competition with the Niagara River Lions in the Canadian summer league (CEBL), where he had been a key player in 2023. « Eddie can be defined by his energy, whether on the court, in practice, or in the community, » stated Lions coach Victor Raso when announcing his return.

In 2023, he was named CEBL Defensive Player of the Year and won the Community Ambassador award. He averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 0.9 blocks, with impressive efficiency (41.7% from three-point range and 81.5% from the free-throw line).