Najeeb Yakubu Explained

Najeeb Yakubu
Birth Date:1 May 2000
Birth Place:Accra, Ghana
Position:Right back
Currentclub:Vorskla Poltava
Clubnumber:25
Youthclubs1:UniStar Academy
Youthyears2:–2017
Youthclubs2:New Town Youth
Years1:2018
Clubs1:Niger Tornadoes
Caps1:?
Goals1:?
Years2:2018–
Clubs2:Vorskla Poltava
Caps2:66
Goals2:2
Years3:2022–2023
Clubs3:Ilves (loan)
Caps3:17
Goals3:0
Nationalyears1:2017
Nationalteam1:Ghana U17
Nationalcaps1:9
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2022–
Nationalteam2:Niger
Nationalcaps2:9
Nationalgoals2:0
Club-Update:6 June 2024
Nationalteam-Update:6 June 2024

Najeeb Yakubu (born 1 May 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a right back for Ukrainian Premier League side FC Vorskla Poltava. Born in Ghana, he plays for the Niger national team.

Club career

On 20 April 2022, Yakubu joined CD Lugo in Spain under the special FIFA regulations related to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, he only participated in training and did not appear in any league games.[1] [2]

In August 2022 he once again suspended his contract with Vorskla under the same regulations, this time until 30 June 2023, and moved to Ilves in Finnish Veikkausliiga.[3] [4]

International career

Born in Ghana, Yakubu is of Nigerien descent.

He has expressed interest in playing for the Ukraine national team.[5]

He was called up to the Niger national team for a set of friendlies in March 2022.[6] He debuted with Niger as a late substitute in a 3–0 friendly loss to Egypt on 23 September 2022.[7]

Career statistics

Club

[8]

ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Vorskla Poltava2018–19Ukrainian Premier League51102[9] 061
2019–20Ukrainian Premier League13120151
2020–21Ukrainian Premier League19020210
2021–22Ukrainian Premier League160102[10] 0190
2022–23Ukrainian Premier League00000000
2023–24Ukrainian Premier League13020150
Total662804000782
Ilves (loan)2022Veikkausliiga8080
2023Veikkausliiga901010110
Total170100010190
Career total532504000632
Notes

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA. FIFA adopts temporary employment and registration rules to address several issues in relation to war in Ukraine. 7 March 2022.
  2. CD Lugo. Najeeb Yakubu se incorpora a la dinámica de trabajo del primer equipo. 20 April 2022. 2 May 2022. es.
  3. Web site: Колись хотів грати за збірну України: лідер «Ворскли» пішов з команди . sportyvka.com.ua . 21 August 2022.
  4. Web site: Ilves. MONIPUOLINEN NAJEEB YAKUBU KELTAVIHREISIIN – "MINULLA ON KOKEMUSTA EUROPELEISTÄ". 20 August 2022. 25 August 2022. fi.
  5. Web site: Ukraine National Team Eyeing Najeeb Yakubu Sports Corna . sportscorna.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210217192650/https://sportscorna.com/2021/02/17/ukraine-national-team-eyeing-najeeb-yakubu/ . 2021-02-17.
  6. Web site: EXCLUSIVE: Former Ghana U17 defender Najeeb Yakubu gets Niger national team invitation. March 17, 2022. GhanaSoccernet.
  7. Web site: %competition_name% (Sky Sports). Sky Sports.
  8. https://globalsportsarchive.com/people/soccer/najeeb-yakubu/181899/ Najeeb Yakubu
  9. Appearances in the UEFA Europa League
  10. Appearances in the UEFA Europa Conference League