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CAF
14-05-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Abdul Hakim Sulemana: Ghana's rising star steps out of his brother's shadow
At the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2025, Ghana's Abdul Hakim Sulemana emerged as one of the tournament's breakout stars, showing the continent—and the world—that footballing brilliance runs deep in the Sulemana family. The 20-year-old winger not only captured hearts with his dazzling displays for the Black Satellites, but also proved he's no longer just 'Kamaldeen's younger brother.' With a Man of the Match performance in Ghana's opening game and a clutch penalty in the quarter-finals, Hakim's star is rising fast. Forged in Techiman, Sharpened in Dreams Born in Techiman in Ghana's Bono East region, Sulemana grew up in a household where football was more than just a pastime—it was a calling. His older brother, Kamaldeen Sulemana, now at English Premier League side Southampton, paved the path. Another brother, Abdul-Rauf, also played professionally. But Hakim has never been content with living in the shadows. 'We all played football in the compound, in the streets—Kamaldeen always pushed me,' he told 'He set the standard, but I want to go higher.' His journey began at Ghana's prestigious Right to Dream Academy, the same institution that developed stars like Mohammed Kudus, Majeed Waris, Ernest Nuamah and David Accam. The academy's holistic approach—focused on education, discipline, and football—shaped Hakim into a complete player and young man. From Ghana to Lyon to Randers Hakim's potential was clear. After excelling at Right to Dream, he joined Olympique Lyon's youth setup in France before sealing a move to Danish top-flight side Randers FC in 2024. The switch was seamless, aided by a familiar face—Fatah Abdirahman, a former Right to Dream coach, now assistant at Randers. 'Having someone who already knows your game makes a big difference,' Hakim said. 'It helped me settle quickly in Europe.' Although still breaking into the Randers first team, his experience at the U20 AFCON has enhanced his reputation. His performances in Egypt—including a late penalty equalizer against hosts Egypt in the quarter-finals—demonstrated maturity well beyond his years. Tournament Recognition and Global Buzz Ghana's U20 run may have ended in heartbreak, losing 5-4 on penalties to Egypt after a 2-2 draw, but Sulemana's stock soared. U20 head coach Desmond Ofei praised the youngster's mindset and impact. 'Hakim is fearless,' Ofei said. 'His size might fool you, but his courage, technical ability, and tactical intelligence make him indispensable.' CAF's Technical Study Group lauded his creativity, balance, and relentless work ethic—attributes reminiscent of Kamaldeen in his early days. And while comparisons are inevitable, Hakim welcomes them with confidence. 'I admire what Kamal has achieved, but I want to be known for my own journey,' he said. Carving His Own Legacy Kamaldeen has already played in the UEFA Champions League and represented Ghana at the World Cup. But Hakim insists the weight of expectation fuels his ambition rather than hinders it. 'Kamal always says, 'Work harder than everyone else.' That's what I live by,' he explained. Following Hakim's Man of the Match accolade against DR Congo, Kamaldeen tweeted: 'Proud of you, little bro. This is just the beginning.' Footballing dynasties are not uncommon in Africa—think the Ayews in Ghana, the Tourés in Côte d'Ivoire, or the Eto'os in Cameroon. But Hakim's rise feels uniquely personal: the shy younger sibling stepping into the arena, ready to be the headline act. The Road Ahead With Ghana missing out on a spot at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, Hakim's next chapter returns to Europe, where scouts are watching. He's determined to earn more minutes at Randers and continue improving. 'My dream is to reach the Premier League, just like Kamal,' he said. 'But first, I want to become a regular at Randers and prove I can make a difference.' If his performances in Egypt are anything to go by, Hakim Sulemana won't be in anyone's shadow
Los Angeles Times
16-02-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
San Diego FC's counts on Mexican star Chucky Lozano to be a spark in its debut season
INDIO — San Diego FC had yet to play an MLS opponent when the team's players filed onto one of the manicured fields at the Empire Polo Club earlier this month to take on New York City in a preseason exhibition. Spotting one player in particular, a small army of kids rushed the white picket fence guarding the field and broke into a chant that is destined to become one of the most popular in the league this season. 'El Chucky Lozano!,' they called rhythmically and in unison, repeating the cry that has followed Lozano since the opening game of the 2018 World Cup. San Diego, an expansion team that will swell the MLS to 30 clubs when it opens its first season against the reigning league champion Galaxy on Sunday at Dignity Health Sports Park, may not have a regular-season win, a culture or a history yet. But it already has a star in Lozano, a 29-year-old Mexican forward who has spent the last eight years in Europe. 'Chucky,' said Tom Penn, the team's chief executive officer 'was our signature player.' Penn has tried this before. As president at LAFC, he made 29-year-old Mexican forward Carlos Vela the signature player for that team's first season in 2018 and that worked out pretty well, with Vela breaking the MLS scoring record a year later, then leading the team to two appearances in the MLS Cup final. However Lozano didn't come to San Diego to break records — although that would be a nice bonus. What attracted him was the city, the league and the club's ties to the Right to Dream youth academy, a series of residential schools and training centers founded in Ghana and now run in four countries by San Diego FC co-owner Mohamed Mansour. 'The whole San Diego project, the Right to Dream, the club. All that caught my attention,' Lozano said in Spanish. 'That's why I chose San Diego.' Making that project succeed will be a challenge but the team isn't exactly drawing on a blank canvas. The Right to Dream academies, which nurture young players holistically in both soccer and education, have graduated some 260 students, sending more than 150 players to professional clubs and more than 65 to national teams. And San Diego coach Mikey Vargas said that success provides a foundation for his fledgling MLS team. 'We're not starting everything from scratch because we already have a model,' said Vargas, whose only experience managing on the senior level was a two-game stint as interim coach of the U.S. national team. 'It's how do we adapt it to make it unique and accessible and successful in MLS. 'I want pure alignment. Whether it's a new project or an established one, pure alignment — coach to leadership, coach to players, coach to supporters. That kind of diamond is the most important thing.' Important because, as an expansion club, San Diego has neither a culture to define it nor a history to fall back on. Vargas said this year's team will be responsible for building both. 'The club's going to be here in 100 years. We're not,' he said. 'So when the club is able to reach back, they're going to reach back on what we do and what steps we take right now. 'That's a massive responsibility. Because you don't just affect your present, but you're really going to affect the trajectory of the club 50, 100 years into the future.' To do that, San Diego has assembled an eclectic roster of players from 14 countries. Among them is U.S. World Cup veteran Luca de la Torre, former LAFC players Pablo Sisniega and Tomás Ángel, former English Premier League defender Paddy McNair and Right to Dream graduate Ema Boateng, who spent three seasons with the Galaxy. 'Being an expansion team, the good thing is there's no blueprint for us,' said Boateng, who has also played for Columbus, D.C. United and New England, all original MLS clubs. 'We can mold it in our own way. We're setting examples for future generations and we're setting the bar for our fans.' Like Lozano, Boateng was also drawn to San Diego by its connections to Right to Dream. Boateng, who was born in Ghana and grew up in a house without running water or electricity, started his soccer journey at the academy when he was 12. He teared up while giving a moving speech at the ribbon cutting for the Right to Dream's newest facility in El Cajon, Calif., where the MLS team will also train. 'I'm forever filled with gratitude when I think of Right to Dream,' he said later. 'At first it was basically a charity that helped me and gave me a chance. Now it's an organization that I play for.' 'I've been on a lot of teams where the word family has been used,' he added. 'This really feels like family. It's an organization that gave me everything that I have now.' It also feels like family to Lozano, whose first name is Hirving, not Chucky. The nickname was hung on him by players in Pachuca's youth system who thought that Lozano, then 11, resembled the evil red-headed Chucky doll from the 'Child's Play' series of horror films. And Lozano embraced it, hiding under beds to frighten teammates. Now he's embracing his role as the signature player on an MLS expansion franchise — which is why he lingered long after that first game to circle the field signing countless autographs and posing for photos with the kids who welcomed him by chanting his name. 'The complete San Diego project, everything that is around San Diego, the city, the people, being part of that caught my attention,' he said. Lozano hopes the rest of MLS will soon be paying attention to San Diego as well.
