Salifu Ibrahim

Salifu Ibrahim
Personal information
Date of birth (2000-06-06) 6 June 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth Abofour Ghana
Position(s) Attacking Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Hearts of Oak
Number 10
Youth career
UniStar Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2021 Eleven Wonders 31 (3)
2021– Hearts of Oak 57 (6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:55, 17 November 2022 (UTC)

Salifu Ibrahim (born 6 June 2000) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a attacking midfielder for Accra Hearts of Oak.[1] He previously played for Techiman Eleven Wonders.[2]

Club career

Eleven Wonders

Ibrahim is a graduate UniStar Academy, a Ghana Division One League team. He started his senior career with Techiman Eleven Wonders in August 2018. On 29 December 2019, he made his official debut, coming on in the 69th minute in Wonders 1–0 loss to Asante Kotoko.[3] He scored his debut goal in the Ghana Premier League on 9 February 2020 by scoring the winning goal via an assist from Abdul Mugees Zakaria to grant Wonders a 2–1 victory.[4] The 2020–21 league season was later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana. At the time of its cancellation, he had played in all 15 league matches, starting in 13 of them and scored 2 goals.[2] Ibrahim's prominence in the Ghana Premier League rose during the first round of the 2020–21 season to the extent that he had reached the stage of being referred to as the poster boy and fan's favourite of the club. During the first round, he played 16 matches, scored one goal, provided 4 assists and won five man of the match awards. Prior to the end of the first round and opening of the transfer window, Ibrahim was linked with several clubs.[5][6] Despite being a reported target of Medeama, Asante Kotoko, Ashanti Gold and Karela United, Eleven Wonders confirmed the transfer of Ibrahim to Accra based club Hearts of Oak on 27 February 2021 for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year deal.[7][8][9]

Hearts of Oak

On 27 February 2021, Accra Hearts of Oak announced that they had signed Ibrahim on a three-year deal.[10][11] On 7 March 2021, was handed his debut by Samuel Boadu during his first match in charge, coming on as a substitute in the 61st minute for Frederick Ansah Botchway in their 4–0 victory over West Africa Football Academy.[12][13] On 13 May, Ibrahim scored his first competitive goal for Hearts of Oak in a 1–0 defeat of Bechem United at the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park in Bechem.[14] His second goal for the club came on 13 June 2021, in the Phobia's 2–0 victory over Medeama, Samuel Boadu's former club.[15] He was adjudged the man of the match at the end of the match.[16][17] At the end of May 2021, he was adjudged the GPL NASCO Player of the Month for May beating competition from Sam Adams and Ismail Abdul-Ganiyu.[18] His season with Hearts of Oak ended well, as he played 16 league matches, scored two goals, provided 4 assists to help Hearts of Oak to clinch the 2020–21 Ghana Premier League title, their 21st league title after a 12-year trophy drought.[19]

Ibrahim contributed with six appearances in the season's Ghanaian FA Cup, as the tournament ended in a win; in the final against Ashanti Gold, he again came on for the Isaac Mensah late into the second half of a goalless draw, and converted his attempt in the 8–7 penalty shootout triumph.[20][21]

At the end of the season, he was awarded the Ghana Premier League Player of the Season, after scoring 3 goals, providing 8 assists and winning the NASCO man of the match award a record eight times, the highest within the season, beating off competition from West African Football Academy's Augustine Boakye, Karela United's Diawisie Taylor, Great Olympics' captain Gladson Awako and his teammate Benjamin Afutu Kotey.[22][23] He was also adjudged the Ghana Football Awards Home-based Player of Year.[24]

International career

On 12 February 2021, Ibrahim was amongst the 32 home-based players called up into the Ghana national football team by the Black Stars head coach C. K. Akonnor for their African Cup of Nations qualifiers against South Africa and São Tomé and Príncipe.[25]

Honours

Hearts of Oak

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Salifu Ibrahim set to complete Hearts of Oak move today- Sources". GhanaSoccernet. 26 February 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Salifu Ibrahim - Soccer player profile & career statistics". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Match Report of Asante Kotoko SC vs Eleven Wonders FC - 2019-12-29 - Ghana Premier League". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Match Report of Accra Great Olympics FC vs Eleven Wonders FC - Ghana Premier League". Global Sports Archive. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  5. ^ Kwafo, Eric Nana Yaw (23 June 2021). "Hearts of Oak agree deal with Techiman Eleven Wonders for the signing of Ibrahim Salifu". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  6. ^ Appiah, Samuel Ekow Amoasi (23 June 2021). "Ibrahim Salifu reveals decision to snub Medeama to join Hearts of Oak". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  7. ^ Kwafo, Eric Nana Yaw (17 February 2021). "Eleven Wonders confirms transfer of midfielder Salifu Ibrahim to Hearts of Oak". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  8. ^ "EXCLUSIVE! Hearts of Oak to swoop for Eleven Wonders talisman Salifu Ibrahim, contacts made with player and representatives". GhanaSoccernet. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  9. ^ "Salifu Ibrahim confused as Medeama 'clashes' with Hearts for his signature". GhanaWeb. 27 February 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  10. ^ "Hearts of Oak announce signing of Eleven Wonders star Salifu Ibrahim". GhanaSoccernet. 27 February 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  11. ^ Mensah, Rita (1 March 2021). "#Donkomi: Hearts of oak complete Salifu Ibrahim signing". Citi Sports Online. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  12. ^ "Salifu Ibrahim marks Hearts of Oak debut in BIG win over WAFA". GhanaSoccernet. 7 March 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  13. ^ Tophic Sienu, Sheikh (7 March 2021). "Match report: Hearts of Oak 4-1 WAFA Samuel Boadu era begins with big win over academy boys". Football Made in Ghana. Archived from the original on 7 March 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Ibrahim Salifiu scores debut Hearts Of Oak goal in Bechem victory". GhanaWeb. 13 May 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  15. ^ "Hearts of Oak beat Medeama, Sharks slay Wonders, Faisal pip Great Olympics – GPL Round up". ghanafa. Ghana Football Association. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  16. ^ "Hearts of Oak's Salifu Ibrahim clinches 8th Man of the Match Award". GhanaWeb. 14 June 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  17. ^ "Ibrahim Salifu named NASCO player of the Month for May". ghanafa. Ghana Football Association. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  18. ^ "Nominees for NASCO Player of the Month - May". ghanafa. Ghana Football Association. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  19. ^ a b Appiah, Samuel Ekow Amoasi (17 July 2021). "Hearts of Oak crowned 2020/21 Ghana Premier League champions [Photos]". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  20. ^ a b "Hearts of Oak beats Ashgold on penalties to win MTN FA Cup". GhanaWeb. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  21. ^ "MTN FA Cup 2021 final - Match Report: AshantiGold (7) 0-0 (8) Hearts of Oak - Hearts annex FA Cup after marathon shoot out victory". Ghana Sports Online. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  22. ^ "Shortlist for NASCO GPL Player of the season announced". ghanafa. Ghana Football Association. 1 September 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  23. ^ "2020/21 GPL NASCO Coach & Player of the Season announced". ghanafa. Ghana Football Association. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  24. ^ a b "Ghana Football Awards: Full list of winners". My Joy Online. Multimedia Group Limited. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  25. ^ "C. K Akonnor names home based squad to prepare for AFCON qualifiers". Ghana Football Association. 12 February 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  26. ^ "GPL Awards: Hearts of Oak's Boadu and Salifu named NASCO coach and player of the season". My Joy Online. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  27. ^ "Ibrahim Salifu named NASCO player of the Month for May". Ghanafa. Ghana Football Association. Retrieved 29 June 2021.