Abdul Fatawu

Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (born 8 March 2004), commonly known as Abdul Fatawu, is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a winger for EFL Championship club Leicester City, on loan from Sporting CP, and the Ghana national team.

Abdul Fatawu
Personal information
Full name Abdul Fatawu Issahaku[1]
Date of birth (2004-03-08) 8 March 2004[1]
Place of birth Tamale, Ghana
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Leicester City
(on loan from Sporting CP)
Number 18
Youth career
Tamale Utrecht Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2022 Steadfast 27 (20)
2021–2022 → Dreams (loan) 7 (6)
2022– Sporting CP 6 (0)
2022–2023 Sporting CP B 13 (2)
2023– → Leicester City (loan) 6 (0)
International career‡
2019–2020 Ghana U17 2 (1)
2021 Ghana U20 6 (2)
2023– Ghana U23 2 (2)
2021– Ghana 14 (1)
Medal record
Representing  Ghana
Africa U-20 Cup of Nations
Winner2021 Mauritania
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:37, 4 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:20, 10 December 2022 (UTC)

Fatawu has been described by British news outlet, The Guardian as arguably the greatest African prospect of his generation and was named in the outlet's "Next Generation 2021".

Club career

Steadfast

In 2019, at the age of fifteen, Fatawu started his career with Tamale-based club Steadfast FC, in the Zone One of the Division One League, the Ghanaian second tier. During his debut season, he immediately established himself as one of the most talented players in the league, scoring eight goals and assisting five in 13 matches before the league was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]

In his second season, he scored 12 goals and made 12 assists in 14 league matches and picked up 8 man of the match awards.[3] In 2021, after the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, Fatawu was linked with several European teams, being some of them Liverpool, Bayer 04 Lervekusen, and Sporting CP.[4][5] In October 2021, Fatawu joined Dreams on a loan until 2022.[6] In the same month, he was included in The Guardian's "Next Generation 2021", and was described by them as "arguably the best African prospect of his generation".[7]

Sporting CP

In April 2022, he was signed by Sporting CP on a five-year contract with a release clause of 60 million euros.[8][9] This brought finality to rumors of him joining Sporting CP on loan from Liverpool and other transfer saga rumour.[5] Prior to signing officially Fatawu had been at the club since February and had been training with the U-23 side. As he was an under age player at the time, and with the season already ongoing, he couldn't be registered with the first-team until the 2022–23 season, then, he began to train with the B team until available to play for the professional team.[10][11]

Ahead of the 2022–23 season, Fatawu was named in the squad for pre-season training and tour for the first team.[12] He was involved in the team's preparations prior to the start of the season playing his first pre-season game against Belgium side Royale Union.[13] On 7 August 2022, he was named on the bench for the first match of the season. The following weekend he made his debut after coming on in the 80th minute for Francisco Trincão in Sporting CP's 3–0 victory over Rio Ave.[14]

Loan to Leicester City

On 31 August 2023, Fatawu signed for EFL Championship side Leicester City on a season-long loan from Sporting CP.[15]

International career

Youth team

In 2018, Fatawu was part of Ghana's national under-17 team managed by Karim Zito.[16] The team reached the finals of the 2018 WAFU Zone B U-17 Cup of Nations. They however lost in the final to rivals Nigeria via a 3–1 penalty shootout after a 1–1 draw after regulation time, with Fatawu missing his penalty in the shootout.[17][18] Fatawu remained a member of the Ghana U-17 team and served as captain of the team in 2020, playing during the 2021 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations qualifiers, during 2020 WAFU Zone B U-17 Cup of Nations.[19][20] At the tournament he scored the equalizing penalty in Ghana's 1–1 draw against Nigeria.[21][22] Ghana were eliminated from the competition after losing 3–1 against Ivory Coast in their final group game. Ghana's only goal of the game was assisted by Fatawu.[23]

The following year, due to his impressive form, Fatawu was promoted into the under-20 squad at the age of 16, despite being much younger than the majority of his teammates. He was later selected to take part in the 2021 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.[24] During the competition, he played all of the Black Satellites' matches, scoring two goals in the group stages to help his side win the title for the fourth time in its history.[25][26] In that occasion, he was also adjudged as the Best Player of the Tournament.[27][28]

Senior team

In March 2021, after his exploits with the U-20 side, Fatawu was given his first call-up to the senior team by C.K. Akonnor, as the Black Stars challenged South Africa and São Tomé and Príncipe in two qualifying matches for the Africa Cup of Nations.[29] He was called up alongside teammates from the U-20 AFCON winning team, Philomon Baffour and Ibrahim Danlad.[30]

Fatawu scored a free-kick goal against Uzbekistan when the Black Stars' B Team played Uzbekistan at the Markaziy Stadium. Even though the game ended 2–1 for Uzbekistan,[31][32] he was highly praised by his performance.[33][34][35]

In September 2021, Fatawu made his debut for the Black Stars in a 3–1 victory over Zimbabwe in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier.[36][37] Fatawu made the 28-man squad for 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.[38] He was the youngest player in the Ghanaian team and the fourth youngest at the tournament.[39] On 27 September 2021, Fatawu scored his debut goal for the Ghana senior team against Nicaragua.[40]

Career statistics

Club
As of 4 October 2023[41]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[lower-alpha 1] League Cup[lower-alpha 2] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Steadfast 2019–20 Division One League 13800———138
2020–21 Division One League 141200———1412
Total 272000———2720
Dreams (loan) 2021–22 Ghana Premier League 7600———76
Sporting CP B 2022–23 Liga 3 13200———132
Sporting CP 2022–23 Primeira Liga 6010203[lower-alpha 3]0—120
Leicester City (loan) 2023–24 EFL Championship 600010——70
Career total 5928103030006628
  1. Includes Taça de Portugal
  2. Includes Taça da Liga and EFL Cup
  3. Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Europa League

International
As of match played 2 December 2022[42]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Ghana 2021 2 0
2022 12 1
Total 14 1
Scores and results list Ghana's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Issahaku goal.[42]
List of international goals scored by Abdul Fatawu Issahaku
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.27 September 2022Estadio Francisco Artés Carrasco, Lorca, Spain Nicaragua1–01–0Friendly

Honours

Ghana U17

Ghana U20

Individual

References
  1. "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Ghana (GHA)" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 14. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  2. Hafiz, Mohammed (26 March 2020). "Meet 16 years Division One Goal Sniper Issahaku Abdul Fataw Of Steadfast FC And Former U17 Star". GhanaSoccernet. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  3. "Rauf Salifu, Stephen Diyuo and Ernest Kusi lead nominees for the Division One League Updates-Ghana Player of the Season prize". Division One League Updates-Ghana. 3 August 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  4. Osei, Bernard Esar Ebo (7 April 2022). "#Donkomi: Abdul Fatawu Issahaku signs five-year deal with Sporting Club". Citi Sports Online. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  5. Dawes, Olly (7 April 2022). "Wonderkid Abdul Fatawu Issahku won't be signing for Liverpool after all". HITC. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  6. "Ghanaian youngster Abdul Fatawu Issahaku joins Dreams FC on loan- Reports". GhanaSoccernet. 14 October 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  7. "Next Generation 2021 by The Guardian". TheGuardian.com. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  8. "Sporting Lisbon sign Ghana teenager Issahaku". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 7 April 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  9. "Abdul Fatawu Issahaku é Leão". www.sporting.pt (in European Portuguese). 6 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  10. "Prodígio ganês contratado pelo Sporting já trabalha na Academia" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  11. "Issahaku atinge maioridade" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  12. "'Outstanding talent' Abdul Fatawu Issahaku included in Sporting CP's plans for pre-season". GhanaSoccernet. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  13. "Sporting CP deploy Fatawu Issahaku in an unfamiliar role during pre-season friendly - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. 14 July 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  14. "Sporting CP win first home game of 2022/2023". www.sporting.pt. 14 August 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  15. "Abdul Fatawu Makes Leicester City Switch". Leicester City F.C. 31 August 2023.
  16. Darkwah, Frank (20 August 2018). "Black Starlets Coach name squad for WAFU U17 Championship". Ghana Sports Online. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  17. Quao, Nathan (16 September 2018). "WAFU Zone B U17: Ghana loses final to Nigeria on penalties". CitiNewsroom. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  18. Abayomi, Tosin (15 September 2018). "Golden Eaglets beat Ghana 3-1 on penalties in final". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  19. "WAFU U-17 Cup of Nations: Ben names Ghana squad to face Nigeria". Ghana Football Association. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  20. Kwafo, Eric Nana Yaw (6 January 2021). "Ghana U-17 coach Ben Fokuo names 28-man squad for WAFU Zone B tournament". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  21. Kwafo, Eric Nana Yaw (9 January 2021). "WAFU Zone B U-17 tournament: Issahaku scores for Ghana in draw against Nigeria". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  22. "Tournoi UFOA B U17 : le Ghana et le Nigeria s'accrochent 1-1". CAFOnline (in French). CAF-Confedération Africaine du Football. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  23. "Ghana crash out of WAFU Zone B tournament after 3-1 loss to Cote D'Ivoire". Ghana Football Association. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  24. Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "Abdul Fatawu Issahaku – We're here to bring back the love". CAFOnline.com. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  25. "Ghana beat debutants Uganda to clinch Total AFCON U20 title". CAFOnline.com. Confedération Africaine du Football (CAF). 6 March 2021. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  26. "U-20 AFCON: Abdul Fatawu Issahaku presents trophy to 'father' Haruna Iddrisu". Citi Sports Online. 11 March 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  27. "U-20 Afcon: Issahaku Abdul Fatawu named Most Valuable Player of the tournament". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  28. "Ghana's Fatawu named Total U20 AFCON player of the tournament". Confédération Africaine de Football. 7 March 2021. Archived from the original on 25 February 2023.
  29. "Ghana youth star Abdul Fatawu Issahaku opens up on receiving first Black Stars call up". GhanaSoccernet. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  30. Teye, Prince Narkortu (16 March 2021). "Ghana call up 17-year-old U20 Afcon star Issahaku and two others for South Africa qualifier". Goal. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  31. "Uzbekistan 2-1 Ghana B: Issahaku's super strike not enough for Black Stars". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  32. "Black Stars B suffer 2-1 to defeat to Uzbekistan in friendly". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  33. "Issahaku: Tanko wants Ghana opportunities for Salzburg-linked teenage prodigy". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 7 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  34. "Ghana starlets Issahaku and co. warned against complacency". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 23 March 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  35. "Ghana starlet Abdul Fatawu Issahaku weighing up Qatar, Switzerland and Italy offers". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 31 March 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  36. "Teenager Fatawu Issahaku impresses on Black Stars debut". GhanaSoccernet. 9 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  37. "Abdul Fatawu Issahaku starts against Zimbabwe". www.ghanafa.org. Ghana Football Association. 9 October 2021. Archived from the original on 10 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  38. "Milovan Rajevac names squad for Total Energies 2021 AFCON". Ghana Football Association. 3 January 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  39. "The six youngest players at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations". Michezo Afrika. 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  40. "Fatawu Issahaku scores debut goal as Black Stars record narrow win over Nicaragua - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  41. "Abdul Fatawu Issahaku". Global Sports Archive.
  42. "Abdul Fatawu". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  43. "Ghana Football Awards: Full list of winners - MyJoyOnline.com". My Joy Online. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  44. "SWAG Awards: Dreams FC star Abdul Fatawu Issahaku wins Discovery of Year Award". GhanaSoccernet. 18 December 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  45. "Issahaku Abdul Fataw wins NASCO Player of the Month - November". Ghana Football Association. 20 December 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
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