Yusupha Njie

Yusupha Njie (born March 1, 1994) is a Gambian professional footballer who plays as a forward for the Portuguese club Boavista and the Gambia national team.[1] He is the son of Biri Biri, who was widely regarded as the greatest Gambian footballer of all time.[2]

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
Club information
Current team
 Boavista
Number 11
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
2017–2018 → Boavista (loan) 17 (4)
2018– Boavista 44 (5)
National team‡
2007 Gambia U15
2010 Gambia U17
Gambia U20
2017– Gambia 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 3 January 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 24 March 2020 (UTC)

Early years

Born in Banjul, Njie began his youth career at local club Wealers FC before switching to Cherno Samba's academy in 2004.[2] 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.[2] 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.[2] He also traveled to Spain for two weeks in 2010 for a trial at his father's former club, Sevilla.[3]

Playing career

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.[4]

"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.[5]

After winning the Moroccan Cup with Rabat in 2014, Njie led them to their first-ever league title in 2015–16.[5] That year, he was voted as Rabat's best player and drew further attention from European clubs.[6] He also scored his second and third career CAF Confederation Cup goals that year,[7] 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.[8][9] 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.[10]

In July 2017, Njie joined Portuguese club Boavista F.C. on a one-year loan, with a buying option in January.[11] He later joined Boavista permanently.

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

Honours

Club
Real de Banjul
FUS Rabat

Personal life

In addition to being Biri Biri's son, he is the half-brother of Gambian international footballer Tijan Jaiteh.[5][15]

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