Yusupha Njie
Personal information
Date of birth (1994-03-01) 1 March 1994
Place of birth Banjul, The Gambia
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Al-Markhiya
Number 10
Youth career
0000–2004 Wealers FC
2004–2011 Cherno Samba Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2013 Real de Banjul
2013–2018 FUS Rabat 73 (7)
2017–2018 → Boavista (loan) 17 (4)
2018–2023 Boavista 109 (28)
2023– Al-Markhiya 6 (3)
International career‡
2007 Gambia U15
2011 Gambia U17 1 (0)
2017– Gambia 7 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 October 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 7 May 2023

Yusupha Njie (born 1 March 1994) is a Gambian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Qatari club Al-Markhiya and the Gambia national team. He is the son of Biri Biri, who was widely regarded as the greatest Gambian footballer of all time.[1]

Early years

Born in Banjul, Njie began his youth career at local club Wealers FC before switching to Cherno Samba's academy in 2004.[1] In 2007, he was scouted for the national under-15 team; he traveled with them to compete in a cup competition in Norway. Two years later, he underwent a two-week trial with Norwegian club SK Brann, where his half-brother Tijan Jaiteh was playing at the time.[1] Although he impressed team officials, he was not able to return at their request because of obligations with the national under-17 team, including the 2011 African U-17 Championship qualification tournament.[1] He also traveled to Spain for two weeks in 2010 for a trial at his father's former club, Sevilla.[2]

Club career

Njie joined first division Gambian side Real de Banjul in 2011 and spent the following two seasons with them, leading them to a league title in 2012. Their win earned them a spot in the 2013 CAF Champions League, where he was instrumental in their 2–1 second-leg victory over Moroccan club FUS Rabat in the preliminary round. Although they got eliminated on aggregate goals, his play attracted the attention of Rabat manager Jamal Sellami, who, four months later, signed Njie to a four-year contract after a successful trial with the club.[3]

"It was a great feeling to win it and I'm very much thankful right now. I was invited to represent my country and it was my dream to come and play but the time was very tight because we were fighting for the championship which my club had never won so it was history for me."

Njie after Rabat's title-clinching victory over MC Oujda in June 2016.[4]

After winning the Moroccan Cup with Rabat in 2014, Njie led them to their first-ever league title in 2015–16.[4] That year, he was voted as Rabat's best player and drew further attention from European clubs.[5] He also scored his second and third career CAF Confederation Cup goals that year,[6] but Rabat eventually lost to Algerian club MO Béjaïa in the semi-finals.

Njie scored the game-winning goal in the second leg of a play-off round match-up against Moroccan rivals MAS Fez during 2017 CAF Confederation Cup qualification. After a 2–1 victory in the first match, Njie scored the second goal in a 1–1 draw to ensure a 3–2 aggregate win, sending them to the group stage.[7][8] In the first group stage match, Rabat defeated the Ugandan domestic champions, KCCA, by a score of 3–0. Njie contributed with a goal and an assist.[9]

In July 2017, Njie joined Portuguese club Boavista F.C. on a one-year loan, with a buying option in January.[10] He later joined Boavista permanently.

In July 2018, it was reported that Njie had signed with French club Stade de Reims,[11] although the deal was cancelled the following day due to failed medical tests.[12]

On 9 June 2023, Qatari side Al-Markhiya announced the signing of Njie on a two-year deal, after his contract with Boavista had expired.[13]

International career

Njie made his senior national debut with Gambia on 11 June 2017 in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, coming on for Hamza Barry during a 1–0 defeat to Benin.[14] He played in the 2021 Africa cup of Nations, his national team's first continental tournament, where they made a sensational quarter-final.[15][16]

Personal life

In addition to being Biri Biri's son, he is the half-brother of Gambian international footballer Tijan Jaiteh.[4][17]

Honours

Real de Banjul

FUS Rabat

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Drammeh, Lamin (28 October 2010). "Profile of Yusupha Njie, a Promising Star in Gambian Football". The Point. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  2. ↑ "El hijo de Biri Biri, a prueba en el Sevilla" (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 1 November 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  3. ↑ Camara, Baboucarr (5 June 2013). "Biri's Son Signs for Fus De Rabat". AllAfrica.com. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 "Gambia: Biri's Son, Yusupha, Rejoices After Helping Club to First Ever Title". AllAfrica.com. 13 June 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  5. ↑ Bah, Sulayman (11 August 2016). "Biri's son voted best player". Foroyaa. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  6. ↑ Bah, Sulayman (18 September 2016). "Gambia's Yusupha Njie has sights on Confederation Cup". Ducor Sports. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  7. ↑ Khalifa, Idriss (19 April 2017). "Yusupha Njie's Goal Qualifies FUS de Rabat T CAF CC Group Stage". sunugambia.com. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  8. ↑ Beyai, Modou Lamin (18 April 2017). "Yusupha Njie Helps FUS To Confederations Cup Qualification". The Daily Observer. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  9. ↑ Bah, Sulayman (17 May 2017). "Gambia's Yusupha Njie Wants Moroccan Club in CAF Total Confederation Cup Final". Ducor Sports. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  10. ↑ Beyai, Modou Lamin (3 July 2017). "Yusupha Njie joins Boavista on loan". The Standard. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  11. ↑ Bah, Sulayman (10 July 2018). "Yusupha Becomes Third Gambian to Sign in French Ligue1". allafrica.com. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  12. ↑ "Yusupha Njie's Reims deal off as Gambian reportedly fails medical". gambiasports.com. 11 July 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  13. ↑ "Oficial: Yusupha troca Boavista pelo Al Markhiya" [Official: Yusupha trades Boavista for Al Markhiya] (in European Portuguese). O Jogo. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  14. ↑ "Benin 1–0 Gambia [Match Details]". cafonline.com. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  15. ↑ https://www.cafonline.com/total-africa -cup-of-nations/matches/2021/2243295/lineups
  16. ↑ "The Gambia name squad for first Nations Cup finals". BBC Sport.
  17. ↑ "Can Yusupha out do father Biri?". The Standard. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
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