Haji Abdikadir

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Haji Abdikadir

| fullname = Haji Abdikadir

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|10|15|df=y}}

| birth_place = Baidoa, Somalia

| height = {{height|m=1.80}}

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub = Athlone Town

| clubnumber = 15

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| collegeyears1 = 2018–2021

| college1 = Louisville Cardinals

| collegecaps1 = 43

| collegegoals1 = 4

| years1 = 2017

| clubs1 = Derby City Rovers

| caps1 = 8

| goals1 = 1

| years2 = 2021

| clubs2 = San Diego Loyal

| caps2 = 6

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2022

| clubs3 = Colorado Springs Switchbacks

| caps3 = 0

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2023–

| clubs4 = Athlone Town

| caps4 = 20

| goals4 = 1

| nationalyears1 = 2022–

| nationalteam1 = Somalia

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| club-update = 1 July 2023

| nationalteam-update = 23 March 2022

}}

Haji Abdikadir (born 15 October 1998) is a Somali professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Athlone Town and the Somalia national team.{{Cite web|url=https://archive.louisville.com/content/portrait-haji-abdikadir|title=The Best High School Soccer Player in America|publisher=louisville.com}}

Career

=Youth=

Abdikadir was born in Baidoa, Somalia, before his family came to the United States when he was eight years old. Abdikadir briefly lived in Florida for three months before settling in Louisville, Kentucky. Abdikadir went on play high school soccer at Louisville Collegiate School, where he was named 2016–2017 All-USA Player of the Year honors and also Gatorade Kentucky player of the year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sdloyal.com/news_article/show/1175645-san-diego-loyal-signs-midfielder-haji-abdikadir-and-forward-chase-boone|title=San Diego Loyal Signs Midfielder Haji Abdikadir and Forward Chase Boone|first=San Diego|last=Loyal|date=July 24, 2021|website=San Diego Loyal SC}}

In 2017, Abdikadir played with USL PDL side Derby City Rovers, making eight appearances and scoring a single goal.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/stats/team_instance/2574602?subseason=376352&tab=team_instance_player_stats&tool=2338250|title=Derby City Rovers - 2017 Regular Season - Statistics|website=www.uslleaguetwo.com}}

=College=

In 2018, Abdikadir attended the University of Louisville to play college soccer. During his three seasons with the Cardinals, including an extended 2020–21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Abdikadir made 43 appearances, scoring four goals and tallying three assists.{{Cite web|url=https://gocards.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/haji-abdikadir/11632|title=Haji Abdikadir - Men's Soccer|website=University of Louisville Athletics}}

=Professional=

On 24 July 2021, it was announced Abdikadir had signed for USL Championship side San Diego Loyal. He made his professional debut five days later, starting for San Diego in a 2–1 loss to Tacoma Defiance.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/tacomadefiance-sandiegoloyal-2199642|title=Tacoma Defiance vs. San Diego Loyal - July 29, 2021 | USLChampionship.com|website=www.uslchampionship.com}}

On 23 February 2022, Abdikadir's rights were traded to Colorado Springs Switchbacks in exchange for Thomas Amang.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1211282-sd-loyal-acquires-thomas-amang-in-trade-with-switchbacks|title=SD Loyal Acquires Thomas Amang in Trade with Switchbacks|author=USLChampionship com Staff|date=February 23, 2022|website=USL Championship}} Two months later, both sides mutually agreed to terminate his deal with the club.

=International=

In March 2022, Abdikadir was called up to the Somalia national team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1217425-international-call-ups-usmnt-alumni-and-two-big-rivalries-championship-news-and-notes-week-3|title=International Call-Ups, USMNT Alumni, and Two Big Rivalries | Championship News & Notes, Week 3|first=NICHOLAS MURRAY-|last=nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com|date=March 23, 2022|website=USL Championship}} He debuted with Somalia in a 3–0 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification loss to Eswatini on 23 March 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/34130/Somalia_Eswatini.html|title=Somalia vs. Eswatini|first=Benjamin|last=Strack-Zimmermann|website=www.national-football-teams.com}}