Sanna Nyassi

Sanna Nyassi
Nyassi after his signing for Penang
Personal information
Full name Sanna Nyassi[1]
Date of birth (1989-01-31) 31 January 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth Bwiam, Gambia
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
2001–2004 Gambia Ports Authority
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2007 Gambia Ports Authority 35
2008 Seattle Sounders 4 (0)
2009–2010 Seattle Sounders FC 38 (2)
2011 Colorado Rapids 26 (5)
2012–2014 Montreal Impact 54 (8)
2014 Chicago Fire 10 (1)
2015–2016 San Jose Earthquakes 28 (2)
2017–2019 Penang 52 (14)
International career
2005 Gambia U17 3 (0)
2007 Gambia U20 2 (0)
2010–2015 Gambia 14 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 July 2018

Sanna Nyassi (born 31 January 1989) is a Gambian professional footballer who plays as a forward. He played for the Gambia national team from 2010 to 2015, making fourteen appearances.

Club career

Gambia Ports Authority

Nyassi began his professional career in 2004 with Gambia Ports Authority of the GFA League First Division. The midfielder remained with the club through the 2007 season, helping the club capture the 2007 Gambian FA Cup, and scoring the game-winning goal in the final.

Nyassi's play with the Gambian Under-20 National Team sparked interest among many Major League Soccer clubs. In late 2007 Nyassi was on trial with New England Revolution, the club that signed his twin brother Sainey.

Seattle Sounders FC

Following a trial spell with newly formed Seattle Sounders FC, Sanna became the third player signed by the club. He was subsequently loaned to Seattle Sounders for the remainder of the 2008 season, prior to Seattle Sounders FC's MLS debut in 2009. On 5 October 2010 Nyassi scored two goals in the final of the 2010 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Final to help Seattle to a 2–1 victory over Columbus Crew and capture its second straight Cup title.[2] He became the first player in modern history to score multiple goals in the Cup final and was named Player of The Round as a result.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC & Colorado Rapids

Playing for Colorado Rapids
Playing for Colorado Rapids

On 24 November 2010, Nyassi was selected by Vancouver Whitecaps FC as their first pick in the 2010 MLS Expansion Draft[3] but he was immediately traded to Colorado Rapids for an international roster slot.[4] On 20 July in a match versus New York Red Bulls, Nyassi scored his first MLS hat-trick and his first three goals for Colorado. His fourth goal of the season came on 29 July against Philadelphia Union. Strike partner Omar Cummings set up Nyassi with a lovely through ball and the Gambian scored with a curling shot to put his side 2–0 up.[5]

Montreal Impact, Chicago Fire

Nyassi was left exposed by Colorado in the 2011 MLS Expansion Draft and was selected by expansion side Montreal Impact.[6] Nyassi spent 2 1/2 seasons with Montreal before being traded to Chicago Fire on 29 July 2014 in exchange for midfielder Dilly Duka.[7]

San Jose Earthquakes

Chicago cut ties with Nyassi at the conclusion of the 2014 season and he entered the 2014 MLS Re-Entry Draft. In December 2014, Nyassi was selected by San Jose Earthquakes in stage two of the draft.[8]

Penang FA

In June 2017, Nyassi sign for Malaysian side Penang.[9]

International career

Nyassi has represented his nation at various youth levels. He earned three caps playing for the Gambian U-17 national team in the 2005 African Under-17 Championship, scoring one goal against Burkina Faso. He also earned two caps for the U-20 national team in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. In 2010, he made his debut for the full national team.

Personal life

Sanna is the twin brother of footballer Sainey Nyassi.

Nyassi holds U.S. citizenship.[10]

Career statistics

As of 28 February 2014
Club Season League League Cup Continental Playoffs Total
Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists
Seattle Sounders 2008 USL First Division 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0
Seattle Sounders FC 2009 MLS 14 0 0 5 1 1 – 1 0 0 20 1 2
2010 MLS 24 2 3 3 2 1 7 0 0 2 0 0 36 4 4
Colorado Rapids 2011 MLS 26 5 5 1 0 0 5 0 1 3 0 0 35 5 6
Montreal Impact 2012 MLS 28 6 3 2 0 0 – – 30 6 3
2013 MLS 22 1 1 2 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 28 1 1
2014 MLS 2 1 0 1 0 0 – – –

Honours

Gambia Ports Authority

Seattle Sounders FC

Montreal Impact

Individual

  • Named MLS Humanitarian of the Month in April 2010
  • MLS Player of the Week; for Week 19, 2011

References

  1. ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 5 July 2007. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 December 2013.
  2. ^ "Nyassi, Sounders top Crew, claim another USOC crown | Major League Soccer". Archived from the original on 7 October 2010.
  3. ^ "Expansion draft lates".
  4. ^ "Rapids acquire Nyassi, Wallace in busy day | Colorado Rapids". Archived from the original on 16 June 2011.
  5. ^ "Gamecast: Philadelphia Union vs. Colorado - Major League Soccer - ESPN FC". Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
  6. ^ "Ching, Mapp headline Montreal expansion draft picks | MLSsoccer.com". Archived from the original on 30 November 2011.
  7. ^ "Chicago Fire Soccer Club Acquires midfielder Sanna Nyassi from Montreal Impact". chicago-fire.com. 29 July 2014.
  8. ^ "San Jose Earthquakes, Houston Dynamo each grab two players in Stage 2 of Re-Entry Draft | MLSsoccer.com". Archived from the original on 19 December 2014.
  9. ^ "Twist in Transfer As Sanna Signs for Penang".
  10. ^ "Sanna Nyassi | MLSsoccer.com".