Abu Azeez Explained

Abu Azeez
Fullname:Abu Abolaji Azeez
Birth Date:31 May 1994
Birth Place:Lagos, Nigeria
Height:1.79m
Position:Forward
Youthyears1:2006–2009
Youthclubs1:Owibeseb FC
Youthyears2:2009–2010
Youthclubs2:Bridge F.C.
Years1:2013–2014
Clubs1:Kwara United F.C.
Years2:2014–2016
Clubs2:Warri Wolves F.C.
Years3:2016–2017
Clubs3:Enyimba F.C.
Years4:2017–2018
Clubs4:Shooting Stars F.C.
Years5:2018–2019
Clubs5:Rangers International F.C.
Years6:2019
Clubs6:Remo Stars F.C.
Years7:2019–2020
Clubs7:Warri Wolves F.C.
Years8:2023–2024
Clubs8:Chittagong Abahani
Caps8:9
Goals8:1
Nationalyears1:2009–
Nationalteam1:Nigeria
Nationalcaps1:79
Nationalgoals1:129
Club-Update:24 February 2024
Ntupdate:09:58, 8 April 2020 (UTC)

Abu Abolaji Azeez (born 31 May 1994) is a Nigerian soccer player who last played as a forward for Bangladesh Premier League side Chittagong Abahani. He represents the Nigeria national beach soccer team.[1] [2]

Early life

Abu Azeez grew up in Ojo part of Lagos in Nigeria with parents who made education a priority for him. He had a strong love for football but could only watch his friends join and represent school teams as his father didn't approve of him joining them.

Unfortunately, he had to wait till his dad died in 2005 before he could join a team. He got his first pair of boot with his father's gratuity.

Club career

Abu joined amateur football team, Owibeseb FC in 2006 and spent three years with them before joining Bridge F.C. in 2009.

He turned professional in 2013 when he signed for Nigerian Professional Football League side, Kwara United F.C.[3] He spent a year with the Ilorin-based club before he was signed by Warri Wolves F.C.[4]

In 2016, he made the switch to Enyimba FC[5] of Aba but once again he moved to Shooting stars sports club of ibadan the following year after a trial with Turkish club Samsunspor.[6]

After one year back in the western part of Nigeria, Azeez moved back to the east, signing for the Enugu Rangers.[7] He played one season with the Flying Antelopes before he joined Remo Stars F.C.[8]

With Remo Stars dropping to the Nigeria National League in 2019, Azeez returned to Warri Wolves for a second stint and has been an important member of the team this season.

International career

Abu Azeez made his debut for Nigeria at the 2009 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Dubai where he scored twice as Nigeria crashed out in the group stages.

He became a vital member of the team from after that tournament and won his first trophy with the team in 2011 at the Copa Lagos.

In 2016, while he was still with Enyimba, Azeez announced that he was retiring from international beach football[9] so he could focus regular football.

He, however, returned to the team later that year to help the West African to a second-place finish at the 2016 Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations which was hosted in Nigeria.

Azeez named Nigeria's captain in 2019, a year after he became the first and only Nigeria Beach soccer player to reach a century of goals.[10]

Player profile

A versatile forward player, Azeez is capable of playing on either wing or through the middle as a centre forward. He is very powerful, with skill and pace to support. while ostensibly right-footed, he is able to hit the ball well with his left foot. He is one of the most popular stars of the Nigeria professional football league.

Honours and achievements

Nigeria

Warri Wolves

2nd Place

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2019 - News - Abu Azeez, Nigeria’s orchestrator. https://web.archive.org/web/20191117015429/https://www.fifa.com/beachsoccerworldcup/news/abu-azeez-nigeria-s-orchestrator. dead. 17 November 2019. www.fifa.com. en-GB. 2020-04-10.
  2. Web site: Busari . Niyi . Abu Azeez Joins Bangladesh Side Chittagong Abahani For 2023/2024 Season . 2023-11-22 . Abu Azeez Joins Bangladesh Side Chittagong Abahani For 2023/2024 Season.
  3. Web site: Kwara Utd pounce on Abu Azeez. 2012-12-16. Daily Trust. en-GB. 2020-04-12.
  4. Web site: Abu Azeez excited to join Warri Wolves Goal.com. www.goal.com. 2020-04-12.
  5. Web site: Oriental Derby: Abu Azeez ready to gun down Rangers. 2016-07-30. VAVEL. en. 2020-04-12.
  6. Web site: Super Sand Eagles Star Abu Azeez Set For Turkey Move. Obi. George. 2017-05-09. Complete Sports. en-US. 2020-04-12.
  7. Web site: Abu Azeez, Femi Thomas, Godwin Zaki... Rangers unveil 17 new players. 2018-01-11. TheCable. en-US. 2020-04-12.
  8. Web site: NPFL:Remo Stars Release Team List for Rest of the Season. Lesley. Angu. 2019-03-30. KICK442. en-GB. 2020-04-12.
  9. Web site: Abu Azeez quits beach football with Nigeria Goal.com. goal.com. 2020-04-12.
  10. Web site: Beach Soccer: Abu Azeez becomes centurion as Nigeria reach World Cup. 2018-12-12. ACLSports. en-GB. 2020-04-12.