Ibrahim Said (footballer, born 2002)

This article is about the Nigerian footballer. For the Egyptian footballer, see Ibrahim Said (footballer, born 1979).
Ibrahim Said
Personal information
Full name Ibrahim Muhammad Said[1]
Date of birth (2002-06-15) 15 June 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth Kano, Nigeria
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[2]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Viborg
Number 8
Youth career
Dabo Babes Academy
2020–2021 Viborg
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020– Viborg 94 (9)
International career
2019 Nigeria U17 4 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 December 2024

Ibrahim Muhammad Said (born 15 June 2002) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Danish Superliga club Viborg FF.

Club career

Early years

A product of Dabo Babes Academy in Nigeria, Said gained international recognition following his strong performances at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Viborg

Despite receiving offers from other clubs, including Club Brugge and İstanbul Başakşehir,[3] and reportedly from English clubs Liverpool and Manchester City,[4] Said ultimately moved to Denmark. The 18-year-old, described by Nigerian media as the next Victor Moses,[3][5] signed a four-year contract with Danish 1st Division club Viborg FF on 21 October 2021.[6]

After a few matches with Viborg's under-19 team, Said made his official debut in the Danish 1st Division on 16 April 2021, in a 4–0 win against Esbjerg fB. He started on the bench before replacing Davit Skhirtladze in the 86th minute.[7] Said made three appearances that season, scoring one goal and helping Viborg secure promotion to the Danish Superliga for the 2021–22 season.[1]

Said made his debut in the Danish Superliga against Nordsjælland on 18 July 2021.[8]

In August 2022, Said and his Viborg teammate Alassana Jatta were unable to travel to England for the club's UEFA Europa Conference League play-off against West Ham United due to post-Brexit entry rules for non-EU citizens.[9]

International career

In 2019, he participated in the FIFA U-17 World Cup for Nigeria, where he played all four matches, and made himself especially noticeable when he scored a hat-trick in the team's 3–2 victory over Ecuador.[2][10]

Career statistics

As of match played 1 December 2024[1]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Viborg FF 2020–21 Danish 1st Division 3 1 — — — 3 1
2021–22 Danish Superliga 19 1 1 0 — 1[a] 0 21 1
2022–23 31 4 5 1 5[b] 1 0 0 41 6
2023–24 29 3 2 0 — — 31 3
2024–25 12 0 2 0 — — 14 0
Career total 94 9 10 1 5 1 1 0 110 11
  1. ^ Appearances in the Danish Superliga European play-offs
  2. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

References

  1. ^ a b c Ibrahim Said at Soccerway
  2. ^ a b "#8 - Ibrahim Said | Midtbane". Viborg F.F. Prof. Fodbold A/S (in Danish). Archived from the original on 15 June 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b Dehn, Anders (29 September 2020). "Spilleren bekræfter selv: Viborg henter "den nye Victor Moses"". Tipsbladet.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  4. ^ Marshment, James (15 December 2019). "EXCLUSIVE: Man City lead Liverpool, Chelsea for Nigeria sensation Said". TEAMtalk. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  5. ^ Emmanuel, Ifeanyi (30 October 2019). "Five Interesting Facts About Nigeria U17 Hat-trick Hero Dubbed The 'New Victor Moses'". All Nigeria Soccer. Archived from the original on 31 October 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  6. ^ Kristensen, Danni (21 October 2020). "Viborg FF handler igen – nigeriansk talent på kontrakt frem til 2024". Viborg Folkeblad (in Danish). Archived from the original on 29 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Viborg vs. Esbjerg 4–0: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Nordsjælland vs. Viborg 1–2: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 1 January 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  9. ^ "Viborg lose two African players for West Ham playoff due to UK entry rules". The Guardian. 17 August 2022. Archived from the original on 14 June 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Ibrahim Said's hat-trick gives Golden Eaglets victory over Ecuador". PM NEWS. 29 October 2019. Archived from the original on 30 October 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2024.