Haji Abdikadir Explained

Haji Abdikadir
Fullname:Haji Abdikadir
Birth Date:15 October 1998
Birth Place:Baidoa, Somalia
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Athlone Town
Clubnumber:15
Collegeyears1:2018–2021
College1:Louisville Cardinals
Collegecaps1:43
Collegegoals1:4
Years1:2017
Clubs1:Derby City Rovers
Caps1:8
Goals1:1
Years2:2021
Clubs2:San Diego Loyal
Caps2:6
Goals2:0
Years3:2022
Clubs3:Colorado Springs Switchbacks
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2023–
Clubs4:Athlone Town
Caps4:20
Goals4:1
Nationalyears1:2022–
Nationalteam1:Somalia
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:1 July 2023
Nationalteam-Update:23 March 2022

Haji Abdikadir (born 15 October 1998) is a Somali professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Athlone Town and the Somalia national team.[1]

Career

Youth

Abdikadir was born in Baidoa, Somalia, before his family came to the United States when he was eight years old. Abdikadir briefly lived in Florida for three months before settling in Louisville, Kentucky. Abdikadir went on play high school soccer at Louisville Collegiate School, where he was named 2016–2017 All-USA Player of the Year honors and also Gatorade Kentucky player of the year.[2]

In 2017, Abdikadir played with USL PDL side Derby City Rovers, making eight appearances and scoring a single goal.[3]

College

In 2018, Abdikadir attended the University of Louisville to play college soccer. During his three seasons with the Cardinals, including an extended 2020–21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Abdikadir made 43 appearances, scoring four goals and tallying three assists.[4]

Professional

On 24 July 2021, it was announced Abdikadir had signed for USL Championship side San Diego Loyal.[2] He made his professional debut five days later, starting for San Diego in a 2–1 loss to Tacoma Defiance.[5]

On 23 February 2022, Abdikadir's rights were traded to Colorado Springs Switchbacks in exchange for Thomas Amang.[6] Two months later, both sides mutually agreed to terminate his deal with the club.

International

In March 2022, Abdikadir was called up to the Somalia national team.[7] He debuted with Somalia in a 3–0 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification loss to Eswatini on 23 March 2022.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Best High School Soccer Player in America. louisville.com.
  2. Web site: San Diego Loyal Signs Midfielder Haji Abdikadir and Forward Chase Boone. San Diego. Loyal. July 24, 2021. San Diego Loyal SC.
  3. Web site: Derby City Rovers - 2017 Regular Season - Statistics. www.uslleaguetwo.com.
  4. Web site: Haji Abdikadir - Men's Soccer. University of Louisville Athletics.
  5. Web site: Tacoma Defiance vs. San Diego Loyal - July 29, 2021 | USLChampionship.com. www.uslchampionship.com.
  6. Web site: SD Loyal Acquires Thomas Amang in Trade with Switchbacks. USLChampionship com Staff. February 23, 2022. USL Championship.
  7. Web site: International Call-Ups, USMNT Alumni, and Two Big Rivalries | Championship News & Notes, Week 3. NICHOLAS MURRAY-. nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com. March 23, 2022. USL Championship.
  8. Web site: Somalia vs. Eswatini. Benjamin. Strack-Zimmermann. www.national-football-teams.com.