Afolabi's first taste of professional football came with Standard Liege in Belgium in 1997.

He moved from the Belgian league to Italian Serie A's SSC Napoli in 2000-01, but returned to Belgium to play for FC Sochaux after failing to make the first team.

As a free agent in 2008-09, he signed a two-year contract Red Bull Salzburg, where he remains today.

His first game for the Nigerian National Team was in 2000 for 20002 World Cup qualifier against Sierra Leone.