Asumah Abubakar

Asumah Abubakar-Ankrah (born 10 May 1997) is a footballer who plays as a forward for Swiss club Luzern. Born in Ghana, he is a youth international for Portugal.

Asumah Abubakar
Personal information
Full name Asumah Abubakar-Ankrah
Date of birth (1997-05-10) 10 May 1997
Place of birth Kumasi, Ghana
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Luzern
Number 21
Youth career
Corners Babies
2015–2016 Willem II
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2018 Willem II 16 (0)
2018–2019 MVV Maastricht 27 (0)
2019–2021 Kriens 47 (22)
2021–2022 Lugano 37 (5)
2022– Luzern 46 (8)
International career
2016 Portugal U19 2 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 June 2023

Club career

Born in Kumasi, Ghana, Abubakar had a successful trial with Willem II in the summer of 2015, but he had to wait to the following year to sign a contract due to work permit problems. He eventually received a Portuguese passport as his father had been working in the nation for several years,[1][2] and on 2 March 2016 he committed to the Dutch club on a short-term deal.[3]

On 2 April 2016, whilst still a junior, Abubakar made his senior debut, coming on as a late substitute in a 2–3 Eredivisie home loss against FC Twente.[4] He transferred to MVV Maastricht for the 2018-2019 season on a free transfer.[5] After 27 appearances and another goalless season Abubakar transferred to Swiss club SC Kriens.[6] On the 28th July 2019, he would score his first professional goal against FC Aarau after being subbed on in the 71st minute.[7] He ended the season third in the top scorer rankings.[6] In his second season, despite Kriens finishing mid-table, he again finished third in the scoring charts and won the Switzerland Challenge League Best Player Award.[8][9] Abubakar transferred to Swiss Super League club FC Lugano at the start of the 2021-2022 season for 100,000 Euros.[10] He scored his first goal for Lugano on his third appearance in a 1–1 draw with FC Basel.[11]

On 14 January 2022, Abubakar signed a contract with Luzern until 30 June 2024.[12]

International career

Having acquired Portuguese citizenship, Abubakar chose to represent that country.[13] On 16 June 2016, he was selected for a 23-man preliminary list for the 2016 UEFA European Under-19 Championship[14] and also made the final squad, scoring in a 4–3 group stage win over the hosts Germany.[15] Shortly after, however, after doubts arose regarding his eligibility, the Portuguese Football Federation opted to immediately remove him from the competition pending further approval.[16]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 11 December 2021[17]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Willem II 2015–16 Eredivisie 1000—10
2016–17 15010—160
2017–18 0000—00
Total 1601000170
MVV 2018–19 Eerste Divisie 27010—280
Kriens 2019–20 Swiss Challenge League 361510—3715
2020–21 11710—127
Total 472220004922
Lugano 2020–21 Swiss Super League 20220—222
2021–22 16321—184
Total 3654100406
Career total 12627810013428

References
  1. "Asumah: o luso-ganês que entusiama na Holanda e vem à seleção" [Asumah: the Portuguese-Ghanaian who thrills in the Netherlands and comes to the national team] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  2. "Asumah: do Gana ao Europeu sub-19, via Ermesinde" [Asumah: from Ghana to the under-19 European Championship, via Ermesinde] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  3. "Ghanaian teenager Asumah Abubakar signs for Dutch Eredivise [sic] Willem II Tilburg". Ghana Soccernet. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  4. "FC Twente vecht zich terug en wint in Tilburg" [FC Twente fight back and win in Tilburg] (in Dutch). FC Twente. 2 April 2016. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  5. "MVV Maastricht sign Asumah in a two-year deal | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
  6. admin. "Big blow for SC Kriens: top striker Asumah Abubakar is storming for Lugano with immediate effect". Retrieved 2021-02-13.
  7. LiveScore, SofaScore com. "SC Kriens FC Aarau live score, video stream and H2H results - SofaScore". www.sofascore.com. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
  8. "SFL-Awards bleiben in YB-Hand". Bote der Urschweiz (in German). 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
  9. "Ghanaian youngster Asumah Abubakar wins Swiss Challenge League Best Player award for 2020". GhanaSoccernet. 2021-01-22. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
  10. "Ghanaian striker Asumah Abubakar completes move to Swiss top-tier side Lugano". GhanaSoccernet. 2021-01-11. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
  11. "Asumah Abubakar-Ankrah nets debut Swiss Super League goal to help Lugano draw at FC Basel". GhanaSoccernet. 2021-01-31. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
  12. "WILLKOMMEN, ASUMAH!" (Press release) (in German). Luzern. 14 January 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  13. "Asumah delighted with Portugal chance". Goal. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  14. "Convocatória pré-Europeu com 23 jogadores" [Preliminary European Championship call-up with 23 players] (in Portuguese). Portuguese Football Federation. 16 June 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  15. "Portugal put paid to Germany hopes". UEFA. 14 July 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  16. "Asumah retirado da convocatória" [Asumah removed from selection]. Record (in Portuguese). 16 July 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  17. Asumah Abubakar at Soccerway
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