By Balogun Kamilu Lekan
Beach soccer player Abu Abolaji Azeez is from Nigeria and was born on May 31, 1994.
He captains the Nigerian national beach soccer team and currently plays as a forward for Warri Wolves F.C, a Nigerian Professional Football League club.
The star soccer veteran is the first Nigerian beach soccer player to reach a century of goals for the national soccer team.
Azeez grew up in Ojo local government, Lagos, where he started his football career with his school team.
In 2006, he joined Owibeseb FC before joining Bridge F.C. in 2009.
He had the opportunity to play professional football in 2013 when he joined Kwara United F.C. of the Nigerian Professional Football League. After spending a year with the club, he left to join Warri Wolves F.C.
In 2016, Abu had the opportunity to opt for a trial with the Turkish club Samsunspor.
The star player has also had spells with clubs like Enyimba FC of Aba, Shooting Stars of Ibadan, Enugu Rangers and Remo Stars.
Abu returned to Warri Wolves in 2019 and has been an integral part of the team.
How did he become a world star?
In a friendly game in Badagry as a teenager, Azeez competed against the Super Sand Eagles. He made a good impression on coach Adamu Ejor, who invited him for screening in advance of the Dubai Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup.
Abu Azeez debuted for the Nigeria Soccer team in 2009 at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Dubai, where he scored twice as Nigeria crashed out in the group stages.
He also played a prominent role in the 2011 edition of the Copa Lagos when the national team lifted the trophy.
His unrelenting effort made the national team finish second place in the Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations hosted by Nigeria in 2016.
Azeez’s significant contributions to the sport earned him a spot among the top 50 beach soccer players in the world in 2017 and an ambassadorial position.
In 2022, Abu was shortlisted for the 2022 Beach Soccer World Player of the Year.
Below is a glimpse of his awards and achievements
Nigeria
- FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup
- Quarterfinals: 2011
BSWW Tour – Copa Lagos
- Winners: 2011, 2012, 2013
- Runners-up: 2019
Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations
- Runners-up: 2011, 2016, 2018
- Third-place: 2015
- Fourth-place: 2013
Warri Wolves
- 2015 Nigeria Professional Football League: 2nd Place
Individual
- MTN Lagos Street Soccer
- MVP: 2010
- Beach Soccer Worldwide Ambassador
- Top 50 Best Beach Soccer Worldwide players 2017
- BSWW Tour – Copa Lagos
- MVP: 2011, 2012, 2017
- Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations
- Top scorer: 2013
- African Beach Games
- Top scorer: 2019
Disclaimer
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