Abdul Fatawu Issahaku

Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (born 8 March 2004) is a Ghanaian professional footballer, who plays as an attacking midfielder for Sporting CP U-23, and for the Ghana national football team.

Fatawu Issahaku
Personal information
Full name Abdul Fatawu Issahaku
Date of birth (2004-03-08) 8 March 2004
Position(s) Midfielder, forward
Club information
Current team
 Sporting CP U-23
Youth career
Tamale Utrecht Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2021 Steadfast 27 (20)
2021 → Dreams (loan) 7 (6)
2022– Sporting CP U-23 0 (0)
National team
2019–2020 Ghana U17 2 (1)
2021– Ghana U20 6 (2)
2021– Ghana 8 (0)
Honours
Representing  Ghana
Africa U-20 Cup of Nations
Winner2021 Mauritania
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Issahaku 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, Issahaku 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.[1]

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.[2] 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.[3][4] In October 2021, Issahaku joined Dreams on a loan until 2022.[5] 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".[6]

Sporting CP

In April 2022, he was signed by Sporting CP on a five year contract with a release clause of 60 million euros.[7][8] This brought finality to rumors of him joining Sporting CP on loan from Liverpool and other transfer saga rumour.[4] Prior to signing officially Issahaku 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.[9][10]

International career

Youth team

In 2018, Issahaku was part of Ghana's U-17 squad, managed by Karim Zito.[11] The team managed to reach 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 Isshaku missing his penalty in the shootout.[12][13]

Issahaku represented Ghana and served as captain of the national under-17 team in 2020, playing during the 2021 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations qualifiers.[14][15] At the tournament he scored the equalizing penalty in Ghana's 1–1 draw against Nigeria.[16][17] Ghana were eliminated from the competition after losing 3–1 against Ivory Coast. Ghana's only goal of the game was assisted by Issahaku.[18]

The following year, due to his impressive form, he was promoted into the under-20 squad at the age of 16, despite being much younger than most part of his teammates. He was later selected to take part in the 2021 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.[19] 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.[20][21] In that occasion, he was also adjudged as the Best Player of the Tournament.[22][23]

Senior team

In March 2021, after his exploits with the U-20 side, he 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.[24] He was given the call up along with Philomon Baffour and Ibrahim Danlad, both his teammates from the U-20 AFCON winning team.[25]

He 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,[26][27] Fatawu was highly praised by his performance.[28][29][30]

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.[31][32] Fatawu made the 28-man squad for 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.[33] He was the youngest player in the Ghanaian team and the fourth youngest at the tournament.[34]

Honours

Ghana U-17

Ghana U-20

Individual

References
  1. 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.
  2. "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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. 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.
  4. Dawes, Olly (7 April 2022). "Wonderkid Abdul Fatawu Issahku won't be signing for Liverpool after all". HITC. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  5. "Ghanaian youngster Abdul Fatawu Issahaku joins Dreams FC on loan- Reports". GhanaSoccernet. 14 October 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  6. "Next Generation 2021 by The Guardian". Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  7. "Sporting Lisbon sign Ghana teenager Issahaku". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 7 April 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  8. "Abdul Fatawu Issahaku é Leão". www.sporting.pt (in European Portuguese). 6 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  9. "Prodígio ganês contratado pelo Sporting já trabalha na Academia" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  10. "Issahaku atinge maioridade" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  11. Darkwah, Frank (20 August 2018). "Black Starlets Coach name squad for WAFU U17 Championship". Ghana Sports Online. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  12. Quao, Nathan (16 September 2018). "WAFU Zone B U17: Ghana loses final to Nigeria on penalties". CitiNewsroom. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  13. Abayomi, Tosin (15 September 2018). "Golden Eaglets beat Ghana 3-1 on penalties in final". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  14. "WAFU U-17 Cup of Nations: Ben names Ghana squad to face Nigeria". Ghana Football Association. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. "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.
  18. "Ghana crash out of WAFU Zone B tournament after 3-1 loss to Cote D'Ivoire". Ghana Football Association. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  19. Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "Abdul Fatawu Issahaku – We're here to bring back the love". CAFOnline.com. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  20. Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "Ghana beat debutants Uganda to clinch Total AFCON U20 title". CAFOnline.com. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  21. "U-20 AFCON: Abdul Fatawu Issahaku presents trophy to 'father' Haruna Iddrisu". Citi Sports Online. 11 March 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  22. "U-20 Afcon: Issahaku Abdul Fatawu named Most Valuable Player of the tournament". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  23. Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "Ghana's Fatawu named Total U20 AFCON player of the tournament". CAFOnline.com. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  24. "Ghana youth star Abdul Fatawu Issahaku opens up on receiving first Black Stars call up". GhanaSoccernet. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  25. 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.
  26. "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.
  27. "Black Stars B suffer 2-1 to defeat to Uzbekistan in friendly". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  28. "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.
  29. "Ghana starlets Issahaku and co. warned against complacency". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 23 March 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  30. "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.
  31. "Teenager Fatawu Issahaku impresses on Black Stars debut". GhanaSoccernet. 9 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  32. "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.
  33. "Milovan Rajevac names squad for Total Energies 2021 AFCON". Ghana Football Association. 3 January 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  34. "The six youngest players at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations". Michezo Afrika. 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  35. "Ghana Football Awards: Full list of winners - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  36. "Issahaku Abdul Fataw wins NASCO Player of the Month - November". Ghana Football Association. 20 December 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
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