Moro Salifu

Moro Salifu
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-12-15) 15 December 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Tamale, Ghana
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Al-Ittihad
Number 18
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016 Medeama 9 (0)
2017–2019 Bechem United 14 (1)
2019 AFAD Djékanou – (–)
2019–2021 Bechem United 34 (9)
2021– Al-Ittihad 43 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 August 2023

Moro Salifu (born 15 December 1998) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as midfielder Egyptian club Al Ittihad Alexandria.[1][2] He previously played for Ghana Premier League sides Bechem United and Medeama SC, whilst having a short stint at Ivorian team Academie de Foot Amadou Diallo.

Club career

Medeama SC

Salifu started his career with Tarkwa-based club Medeama SC. He made his debut during the 2016 Ghana Premier League season. He played his first match on 6 March 2016 in a 2–2 draw against Kumasi Asante Kotoko, coming on at half time for Paul Aidoo.[3] He ended his first season with 9 league matches and 1 CAF Confederation Cup.[1]

Bechem United

After a full season with Medeama, Salifu joined Bechem United in 2017.[4] He made his debut on 22 February 2017 in a 1–0, coming on in the 40th minute for Joseph Amoah.[5] His first professional goal came on 27 August 2018 in a 1–0 league win over Ashanti Gold.[6] He made 14 league appearances and scored 1 goal in the 2017 Ghana Premier League.[1]

AFAD Djékanou

In March 2019, Salifu moved to Ivory Coast and joined Ivory Coast Ligue 1 side Academie de Foot Amadou Diallo, after being linked with a move to ASEC Mimosas and Algerian top side ES Sétif. He signed a two-year contract with the club,[7] however played there for a season.[8]

Return to Bechem United

Salifu returned to Ghana and joined his former club Bechem United ahead of the 2019–20 season. In his return, he played 10 league matches and scored 2 goals, before the league was cancelled due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 in Ghana.[1] After that impressive short season, he was linked with a move to Kumasi giants Asante Kotoko as a backup and future midfield partner for Justice Blay.[4] He however did not join Asante Kotoko and was appointed as the club captain ahead of the 2020–21 Ghana Premier League season.[9][10] He ended the season as one of the highly rated midfielders, with 7 goals (6 penalty kicks) in 24 matches and won five man of the match awards.[11][12]

Al Ittihad Alexandria Club

On 29 August 2021, Egyptian club Al Ittihad Alexandria Club announced that they had signed Salifu on a three-year contract until 2024.[13][14][12] This was after he had been on the radar of several clubs including fellow Egyptian club Al Masry and Ghanaian clubs Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak.[15][14]

International career

Salifu has previously played for the Ghana national under-17 team. In 2018–2019, he was an integral member of the Ghana national under-23 team during their 2019 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifiers for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.[16][17]

Salifu was handed a late call-up into the Ghana national football team in June 2021, ahead of friendly matches against Morocco and Ivory Coast.[18][19][20]

Honours

Medeama SC

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Moro Salifu - Soccer player profile & career statistics - Global Sports Archive". GlobalSportsArchive. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Ghana - M. Salifu - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". Soccer Way Ghana. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Match Report of Asante Kotoko SC vs Medeama SC - 2016-03-06 - Ghana Premier League - Global Sports Archive". GlobalSportsArchive. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  4. ^ a b "EXCLUSIVE: Kotoko to sign midfield gem Moro Salifu - Kickgh.com". kick Ghana. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Match Report of Asante Kotoko SC vs Bechem United FC - 2017-02-22 - Ghana Premier League - Global Sports Archive". GlobalSportsArchive. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Match Report of Bechem United FC vs Ashanti Gold SC - 2017-08-27 - Ghana Premier League - Global Sports Archive". GlobalSportsArchive. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  7. ^ Adams, Nuhu (19 March 2019). "EXCLUSIVE: Former Bechem midfielder Moro Salifu signs for Ivorian side AFAD". GhanaSoccernet. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  8. ^ "Asante Kotoko eyes Bechem United's Moro Salifu". GhanaWeb. 22 March 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  9. ^ "We are bent on beating Asante Kotoko – Bechem United captain". GhanaWeb. 7 April 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  10. ^ "Captain of Bechem United, Moro Salifu Scores in Debut Black Stars start". 442 GH. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  11. ^ "Bechem United captain Moro Salifu reportedly closing in on Egypt move". GhanaSoccernet. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  12. ^ a b Osman, Abdul Wadudu (29 August 2021). "OFFICIAL : Egyptian Top-flight side Al Ittihad Alexandria Announce the signing of Bechem United skipper Moro Salifu". Football Made In Ghana. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  13. ^ "Ex-Bechem United captain Moro Salifu seals move to Al Ittihad of Egypt". GhanaSoccernet. 29 August 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Hearts of Oak & Asante Kotoko target Moro Salifu joins Al Ittihad Alexandria until 2024 - Kickgh.com". Kick Ghana. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  15. ^ "Bechem United captain Moro Salifu set to join Egyptian side Al Masry". GhanaSoccernet. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  16. ^ Akyereko, Akwasi (29 November 2018). "22 players invited for Black Meteors camp ahead of CAF U23 Championship qualifier". Ghana Sports Online. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  17. ^ Adams, Saddick (28 February 2019). "ASEC Mimosa and ES Setif in transfer battle for Ghana U23 star Moro Salifu". Ghana Sports Online. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  18. ^ "Salifu & two others handed late Black Stars call-up for Ivory Coast, Morocco friendly - Kickgh.com". kick Ghana. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  19. ^ "Ati-Zigi, Fameyeh and Salifu join Black Stars camp for June friendlies". Graphic Online. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  20. ^ Association, Ghana Football. "Ati Zigi, Fameyeh and Salifu join Black Stars camp for June friendlies". Ghanafa. Retrieved 9 June 2021.