Karifa Yao

Karifa Yao (born September 28, 2000) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Cavalry FC, on loan from CF Montréal.

Karifa Yao
Personal information
Full name Karifa Yao
Date of birth (2000-09-28) September 28, 2000
Place of birth Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Cavalry FC
(on loan from CF Montréal)
Youth career
0000–2017 Étoiles de l’Est
2017–2019 Montreal Impact
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019– CF Montréal[lower-alpha 1] 2 (0)
2021– → Cavalry FC (loan) 29 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of May 1, 2022

Club career

CF Montréal

Yao joined the Montreal Impact Academy in 2017, after previously playing with amateur side Étoiles de l’Est.[1] On June 4, 2019, Yao signed a homegrown contract with Montreal Impact.[2] He made his professional debut on September 20, 2020, appearing as a 53rd-minute substitute during a 4–1 loss to Philadelphia Union.[3]

On February 3, 2021, Yao went on a season-long loan to Canadian Premier League side Cavalry FC.[4] He made his debut for Cavalry on June 30 against Atlético Ottawa, starting in a 4-1 victory. On November 20, Yao scored his first professional goal against Pacific FC, netting the equalizer in their 2021 CPL season play-off semi-final, which ultimately ended in a 2-1 defeat for Cavalry.[5] After the 2021 season, Cavalry announced that Yao would leave the club at the end of his loan spell, and CF Montréal would announce that they would exercise the option on Yao's contract for 2022.[6][7]

On March 18, 2022, Yao returned to Cavalry FC on loan.[8]

Personal life

Yao was born in Montreal, Quebec to an Ivorian father and a Senegalese mother.[1]

Honours
Montreal Impact

Notes
  1. Montreal Impact changed its name to CF Montréal in 2021

References
  1. "Karifa Yao | Montreal Impact".
  2. "Centre-back and Impact Academy product Karifa Yao signs with the first team | Montreal Impact".
  3. "Boxscore: Montreal Impact vs. Philadelphia Union 09/20/2020 | Matchcenter".
  4. Charlie O'Connor-Clarke (3 February 2021). "Cavalry FC adds defender Karifa Yao on loan from MLS side CF Montreal". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  5. Jacques, John (November 20, 2021). "Pacific Powers Way To 2021 CPL Final". Northern Tribune.
  6. "CF Montréal exercises options for 12 players". CF Montreal. November 30, 2021.
  7. Charlie O'Connor-Clarke (November 25, 2021). "Cavalry FC announce departure of six players including Farsi, Yao". Canadian Premier League.
  8. "Cavalry FC add Karifa Yao and Jean-Aniel Assi on loan from CF Montreal". Canadian Premier League. 2022-03-18. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  9. "L'Impact de Montréal remporte le Championnat canadien". Retrieved September 28, 2019.
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