Karifa Yao
{{short description|Canadian soccer player}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Karifa Yao
| image = Karifa Yao of Cavalry FC.jpg
| image_size =
| alt = Soccer player jogging during warm-up
| caption = Yao with Cavalry in 2022
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|9|28}}
| birth_place = Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| height = {{convert|1.88|m|abbr=on}}
| position = Defender
| currentclub = Rhode Island FC
| clubnumber = 24
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = CS Fabrose
| youthyears2 =
| youthclubs2 = Étoiles de l’Est
| youthyears3 = 2017–2019
| youthclubs3 = Montreal Impact
| years1 = 2019–2022
| clubs1 = CF Montréal{{efn|Montreal Impact changed its name to CF Montréal in 2021}}
| caps1 = 2
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2021–2022
| clubs2 = → Cavalry FC (loan)
| caps2 = 49
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2023
| clubs3 = Vancouver Whitecaps FC
| caps3 = 1
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2023
| clubs4 = → Whitecaps FC 2 (loan)
| caps4 = 6
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2024–
| clubs5 = Rhode Island FC
| caps5 = 44
| goals5 = 1
| medaltemplates =
| club-update = July 5, 2025
| nationalteam-update =
}}
Karifa Yao (born September 28, 2000) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Rhode Island FC of the USL Championship.
Early life
Yao began playing youth soccer at age seven with CS Fabrose.{{Canada Soccer player|id=5118}} Afterwards, he joined youth club Étoiles de l’Est.{{Cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/montreal-impact-karifa-yao/|title=Montreal Impact Sign Karifa Yao To Homegrown Contract|date=June 1, 2019|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}} He was also part of the National High Performance Centre.{{Cite web|url=https://journalmetro.com/local/saint-leonard/1026323/2000-pour-karifa-yao/|title=2000$ pour Karifa Yao|language=fr|trans-title=$2000 for Karifa Yao|first=Audrey|last=Gauthier|date=September 22, 2016|work=Métro}} In 2017, he joined the Montreal Impact Academy, playing a year with the U17s, before playing two years with the U19s.{{Cite web|url=https://journalmetro.com/local/saint-leonard/2331877/un-ancien-de-saint-ex-avec-limpact/|title=Un ancien de Saint-Ex avec l'Impact|trans-title=A former Saint-Ex with the Impact|language=fr|date=June 5, 2019|first=Félix|last=Lacerte-Gauthier|work=Métro}}
Club career
In June 2019, Yao signed a homegrown contract with Montreal Impact.{{Cite web|url=https://www.impactmontreal.com/en/post/2019/06/04/centre-back-and-impact-academy-product-karifa-yao-signs-first-team|title=Centre-back and Impact Academy product Karifa Yao signs with the first team|work=Montreal Impact|date=June 4, 2019}} He made his professional debut on September 20, 2020, appearing as a substitute against the Philadelphia Union.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mountroyalsoccer.com/2021/2/3/22265019/yao-ferdinand-off-on-loan-moves|title=Yao & Ferdinand Off on Loan Moves|date=February 3, 2021|work=Mount Royal Soccer|first=Paul|last=Vance}}
In February 2021, Yao went on a season-long loan to Canadian Premier League side Cavalry FC.{{cite web |first=Charlie|last=O'Connor-Clarke |title=Cavalry FC adds defender Karifa Yao on loan from MLS side CF Montreal |url=https://canpl.ca/article/cavalry-fc-adds-defender-karifa-yao-on-loan-from-mls-side-cf-montreal |publisher=Canadian Premier League |date=3 February 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/cavalry-fc-karifa-yao/|title=CF Montreal Loans Karifa Yao To Cavalry FC|date=February 3, 2021|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}} On November 20, Yao scored his first professional goal against Pacific FC, netting the equalizer in their 2021 CPL season play-off semi-final, which ultimately ended in a 2-1 defeat for Cavalry.{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/2021-canadian-premier-league-playoff-cavalry-pacific/|title=Pacific Powers Way To 2021 CPL Final|date=November 20, 2021|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}}{{Cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/always-play-until-the-whistle-karifa-yao-and-cavalry-fc-looking-to-show-they-have-learned-from-last-years-playoffs|title='Always, play until the whistle': Karifa Yao and Cavalry FC looking to show they have learned from last year's playoffs|date=October 13, 2022|work=Canadian Premier League|first=Mitchell|last=Tierney}} He was selected as Cavalry fans’ Player of the Year in 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/cpl50-16-karifa-yao-cavalry-fc|title=CPL50 – 16. Karifa Yao (Cavalry FC)|date=December 17, 2021|work=Canadian Premier League|first=Benedict|last=Rhodes}} After the 2021 season, Cavalry announced that Yao would leave the club at the end of his loan spell,{{Cite web|url=https://calgaryherald.com/sports/soccer/cavalry-loses-major-pieces-farsi-yao-nash-in-off-season-look-to-replace/wcm/3e600a01-542b-40d6-b1fb-914318d4757d|title=Replacing major pieces Farsi, Yao, Nash tall order for Cavs|date=January 18, 2022|work=Calgary Herald|first=Todd|last=Saelhof}}{{cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/cavalry-fc-announce-departure-of-six-players-including-farsi-yao|title=Cavalry FC announce departure of six players including Farsi, Yao|website=Canadian Premier League|first=Charlie|last=O'Connor-Clarke|date=November 25, 2021}} and CF Montréal announced that they would exercise the option on Yao's contract for 2022.{{cite web|url=https://en.cfmontreal.com/news/cf-montreal-exercises-options-for-12-players|title=CF Montréal exercises options for 12 players|website=CF Montreal|date=November 30, 2021}} In March 2022, he extended his contract with Montreal adding another option year,{{Cite web|url=https://sportsnaut.com/cf-montreal-sign-d-karifa-yao-to-extension/|title=CF Montreal sign defenseman Karifa Yao to extension|date=March 18, 2022|work=Sportsnaut}} while also returning to Cavalry on loan for a second season.{{Cite web |date=March 18, 2022 |title=Cavalry FC add Karifa Yao and Jean-Aniel Assi on loan from CF Montreal |url=https://canpl.ca/article/cavalry-fc-add-karifa-yao-and-jean-aniel-assi-on-loan-from-cf-montreal |access-date=2022-03-18 |website=Canadian Premier League}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/canada/calgary-herald/20220319/281977496109961|title=Yao 'happy' he's back with Cavalry FC|work=Calgary Herald|date=March 19, 2022}} He played a pivotal role for Cavalry, leading all outfield players in minutes played for the team.{{Cite web|url=https://calgarysun.com/sports/soccer/real-karifa-yao-doing-really-well-all-over-field-for-cavalry|work=Calgary Sun|title='Real Karifa Yao' doing really well all over field for Cavalry|first=Todd|last=Saelhof|date=August 20, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://theprovince.com/sports/soccer/mls/vancouver-whitecaps/on-yao-iverson-and-the-vancouver-whitecaps|title=On Yao, Iverson and the Vancouver Whitecaps|date=January 29, 2023|work=The Province|first=J.J.|last=Adams}} Over his time with Cavalry, he scored two goals and added two assists in 56 games, across all competitions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/mls/2023/01/13/canadian-defender-yao-among-fresh-faces-looking-to-crack-whitecaps-roster.html|title=Canadian defender Yao among fresh faces looking to crack Whitecaps' roster|first=Gemma|last=Karstens-Smith|work=Toronto Star|date=January 13, 2023}}
After the 2022 season, his option was declined by Montreal and he departed the club.{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/cf-montreal-release-karifa-yao/|title=Yao A Surprise Departure In CF Montreal Roster Update|date=November 15, 2022|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}} However, at the 2022 MLS Re-Entry Draft, Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced they had picked up Yao's contract for the 2023 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/whitecaps-fc-select-cf-montreal-defender-karifa-yao-in-stage-1-of-mls-re-entry-d|title=Whitecaps FC select former CF Montréal centre back Karifa Yao in Stage 1 of MLS Re-Entry Draft|date=November 17, 2022|work=Vancouver Whitecaps FC}}{{Cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/whitecaps-recruit-cpl-standout-karifa-yao/|title=Whitecaps Recruit CPL Standout Karifa Yao|date=November 17, 2022|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}}{{Cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/i-improved-so-much-karifa-yao-on-cpl-experience-ahead-of-first-season-with-whitecaps|title='I improved so much': Karifa Yao on CPL experience ahead of first season with Whitecaps|date=February 21, 2023|work=Canadian Premier League|first=Mitchell|last=Tierney}} He made his debut for the Whitecaps on March 8, in a CONCACAF Champions League match against Honduran club Real España.{{Cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/vancouver-whitecaps-karifa-yao-debut/|title=Karifa Yao Makes 'Caps Debut In Champions League|date=March 9, 2023|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}}
In January 2024, he signed a professional contract with USL Championship expansion side Rhode Island FC.{{cite web|url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1297907|title=Rhode Island signs Canadian defender Karifa Yao|date=January 23, 2024|work=USL Championship|first=Nicholas|last=Murray}}{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/rhode-island-fc-karifa-yao-sign/|title=USL newcomer Rhode Island sign Karifa Yao|date=January 23, 2024|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}}
International career
In March 2015, he was called up to a camp with the Canada U15 team. In April 2017, he was called up to a camp with the Canada U17 team.
Personal life
Yao was born in to an Ivorian father and a Senegalese mother.{{Cite web|url=https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2019/06/12/karifa-yao-content-detre-a-la-maison|title=Karifa Yao: content d'être à la maison|language=fr|date=June 12, 2019|trans-title=Karifa Yao: happy to be home|first=Dave|last=Lévesque|work=Le Journal de Montréal}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.lapresse.ca/sports/soccer/2022-01-18/cf-montreal/la-covid-19-force-deja-une-prise-de-conscience.php|title=La COVID-19 force déjà une " prise de conscience "|trans-title=COVID-19 is already forcing “awareness”|language=fr|date=January 18, 2022|first=Jean-François|last=Téotonio|work=La Presse}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played July 5, 2025}}{{Soccerway|karifa-yao/508040}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" | |||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Playoffs !colspan="2"|Domestic Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division
!Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan=3|CF Montréal
|2019 |rowspan=2|Major League Soccer |0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2020
|2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 2 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2" |Total
!2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| rowspan=3|Cavalry FC (loan)
|2021 |rowspan=2|Canadian Premier League |25 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 28 | 1 | ||
| 2022
|24 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 28 | 1 | ||
| colspan="2" |Total
!49 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 2 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC
|2023 |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Whitecaps FC 2 (loan)
|2023 |6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| rowspan="3"|Rhode Island FC
|2024 |rowspan="2"|USL Championship |33 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 2 |
| 2025
|11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| colspan="2" |Total
!44 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 51 | 2 |
| colspan="3" |Career total
!102 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 119 | 4 |
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|karifa-yao/508040}}
{{Rhode Island FC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yao, Karifa}}
Category:Canadian men's soccer players
Category:Canadian people of Ivorian descent
Category:Canadian people of Senegalese descent
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Soccer players from Montreal
Category:Major League Soccer players
Category:Canadian Premier League players
Category:Homegrown Players (MLS)
Category:Vancouver Whitecaps FC players