Haji Mnoga

Haji Suleiman Haji Ali Mnoga (born 16 April 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays for Portsmouth as either a centre-back or a right-back.

Haji Mnoga
Personal information
Full name Haji Suleiman Haji Ali Mnoga[1]
Date of birth (2002-04-16) 16 April 2002[2]
Place of birth Portsmouth, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[3]
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Portsmouth
Number 37
Youth career
2008–2018 Portsmouth
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018– Portsmouth 3 (0)
2019 → Bognor Regis Town (loan) 1 (0)
National team‡
2019– England U17 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:47, 21 November 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15:26, 11 February 2019 (UTC)

Personal life

Haji Mnoga was born in Portsmouth to a Tanzanian father and English mother. Mnoga attended Cottage Grove Primary School, and Trafalgar School, Portsmouth.[2] His father also played football and represented Zanzibar under 17.

Club career

Portsmouth

Mnoga progressed through Portsmouth's youth categories. He has been at the club since 2008. He was offered a two-year scholarship contract on 28 June 2018.[4]

Mnoga made his professional debut on 9 October 2018, starting in a 1–0 EFL Trophy away win against Crawley Town.[5] At the age of 16 years, five months and 24 days, he became the second-youngest player to debut for the club in their post-war history, only behind fellow Academy teammate Joe Hancott.[2]

On 21 March 2020 Mnoga was tested positive for COVID-19.[6]

Having recovered from COVID-19, Mnoga featured for Gosport Borough in a 1-0 pre-season victory over local rivals Havant & Waterlooville at Privett Park in September 2020, having been loaned for the evening by Pompey to their neighbours across the harbour.

On 3 November 2020, Mnoga made his league debut for Portsmouth, coming off the bench to play right-wing in a 3-1 win at Lincoln City.[7] He scored his first goal for Portsmouth in an EFL Trophy tie against Cheltenham Town on 8 December 2020.[8]

International career

Mnoga is eligible to represent both England and Tanzania at international level. Mnoga made his England U17 debut on 10 February 2019, coming on at half-time against Hungary U17 in a 4-1 penalty friendly win.[9]

Career statistics
As of match played 8 December 2020[3]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Portsmouth 2018–19 League One 0000003030
2019–20 0000001010
2020–21 3010003171
Total 30100071111
Bognor Regis Town (loan) 2019–20 Isthmian Premier Division 1000000010
Career total 40100071121

Honours

Portsmouth

References
  1. "Club list of registered players" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  2. "Mnoga praise – but Portsmouth youngster told to grasp big chance". The News. 10 October 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  3. Haji Mnoga at Soccerway. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  4. "Blues Sign Eight New Apprentices". Portsmouth FC. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  5. "Crawley 0 Pompey 1". Portsmouth F.C. 9 October 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  6. "Haji Mnoga the fourth Portsmouth player to test positive for coronavirus". portsmouth. 21 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  7. "The Football League debut which franked all the recent Portsmouth soundbites". Portsmouth News. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  8. "Cheltenham 0 Portsmouth 3 - England eyes on impressive Haji Mnoga after inspiring Blues to Papa John's Trophy progress". portsmouth.co.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  9. "Portsmouth defender makes debut for England under-17s". Portsmouth News. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
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