Razak Abalora

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Razak Abalora

| image =

| fullname = Razak Abalora

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|9|4|df=y}}

| birth_place = Accra, Ghana

| height = 1.94 m

| position = Goalkeeper

| currentclub = AF Elbasani

| clubnumber = 40

| youthyears1 = 2010–2013

| youthclubs1 = West African Football Academy

| years1 = 2013–2017

| clubs1 = WAFA

| years2 = 2017–2020

| clubs2 = Azam

| years3 = 2020–2022

| clubs3 = Asante Kotoko

| years4 = 2022–

| clubs4 = Sheriff Tiraspol

| years5 = 2024–

| clubs5 = → AF Elbasani

| caps1 = 24

| goals1 = 0

| caps2 = 100

| goals2 = 0

| caps3 = 33

| goals3 = 0

| caps4 = 15

| goals4 = 0

| caps5 = 3

| goals5 = 0

| totalcaps =

| totalgoals = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2019–

| nationalteam1 = Ghana

| nationalcaps1 = 4

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| club-update = 29 April 2024

| nationalteam-update = 23 December 2019

}}

Razak Abalora (born 4 September 1996) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays for the Albanian football club found in Elbasan AF Elbasani as a goalkeeper.{{Cite web |date= |title=Former Ghana goalkeeper Razak Abalora signs for AF Elbasani in Albania (ghanasoccernet.com) |url=https://ghanasoccernet.com/former-ghana-goalkeeper-razak-abalora-signs-for-af-elbasani-in-albania |website=Ghana Soccer Net}}

Club career

Abalora joined the Feyenoord Academy and went on to spend three years before joining the senior team now called West African Football Academy (WAFA). Abalora spent the next five years at the Ghanaian Premier League team before he moved to Azam. He joined Azam on a three-year deal in July 2017.{{cite web |last=Evans |first=Gyamera-Antwi|url=https://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/azam-fc-complete-signing-of-wafa-goalkeeper-abalora/fovoy0x5grkz1eb8xfcjz4ka5|title=Azam FC complete signing of Wafa goalkeeper Abalora|website=Goal.com |publisher= GOAL |accessdate=23 December 2019|date=29 July 2017}}{{cite web |last=Oliseh |first=Dada|url=https://ghanasoccernet.com/azam-fc-goalie-razak-abalora-records-13th-clean-sheet-in-tanzanian-premier-league|title=Azam FC goalie Razak Abalora records 13th clean sheet in Tanzanian Premier League|website=ghanasoccernet.com|publisher=Ghanasoccernet |accessdate=23 December 2019 |date=10 December 2018}}

In October 2020, he joined Asante Kotoko on as a free agent on 3-year contract.{{Cite web|last=Teye|first=Prince Narkortu|date=13 October 2020|title=Razak Abalora: Asante Kotoko snap up Ghana international and former Azam goalkeeper|url=https://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/razak-abalora-asante-kotoko-snap-up-ghana-international-and/1v4d9i1s3y7k91tp1e5djn74ob|access-date=2 February 2022|website=Goal}} He made his debut on 20 December 2020, in a 1–0 victory over Dreams.{{Cite web|title=Match Report of Dreams FC vs Asante Kotoko SC - Ghana Premier League|url=https://globalsportsarchive.com/match/soccer/2020-12-20/dreams-fc-vs-asante-kotoko-sc/2201784/|access-date=2 February 2022|website=Global Sports Archive}} He was appointed the deputy captain of the club to Ismail Abdul-Ganiyu.{{Cite web|last=Osman|first=Abdul Wadudu|date=7 October 2021|title=Confirmed : Ismail Abdul Ganiyu appointed new captain for Asante Kotoko|url=https://footballmadeinghana.com/2021/10/07/confirmed-ismail-abdul-ganiyu-appointed-new-captain-for-asante-kotoko/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007081337/https://footballmadeinghana.com/2021/10/07/confirmed-ismail-abdul-ganiyu-appointed-new-captain-for-asante-kotoko/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=7 October 2021|access-date=3 February 2022|website=Football Made In Ghana|language=}} He left the club in 2022 and joined Sheriff Tiraspol. He played 33 league matches and kept 17 clean sheets.

In January 2022, Abalora joined Moldovan football club Sheriff Tiraspol on a three-year contract.{{Cite web|date=21 January 2022|title=FC Sheriff officially announce signing of Asante Kotoko and Ghana goalkeeper Razak Abalora|url=https://ghanasoccernet.com/fc-sheriff-officially-announce-signing-of-asante-kotoko-and-ghana-goalkeeper-razak-abalora|access-date=2 February 2022|website=GhanaSoccernet}}{{Cite web|last=Esar Ebo Osei|first=Bernard|date=22 January 2022|title=#Donkomi: Kotoko goalkeeper Razak Abalora joins Moldovan giants FC Sheriff Tiraspol|url=https://citisportsonline.com/2022/01/22/donkomi-kotoko-goalkeeper-razak-abalora-joins-moldovan-giants-fc-sheriff-tiraspol/|access-date=6 February 2022|website=Citi Sports Online|language=}} This made him the fourth Ghanaian player to join the club in the space of two years.{{Cite web|last=Appiah|first=Samuel Ekow Amoasi|date=12 January 2022|title=CONFIRMED: Goalkeeper Razak Abalora leaves Asante Kotoko to join Moldovan side FC Sheriff Tiraspol|url=https://www.modernghana.com/sports/1131398/confirmed-goalkeeper-razak-abalora-leaves-asante.html|access-date=2 February 2022|website=Modern Ghana|language=}}

In August 2024, Abalora joined Albanian football club AF Elbasani on a three-year contract. He replaced the existing goalkeeper Klevi Totoshi, after bad performances by this goalkeeper.

International career

Razak earned his first cap for Ghana on 19 October 2019.{{cite web|title=Ghana names squad for AFCON 2021 qualifiers against South Africa & São Tomé and Príncipe|url=https://www.ghanafa.org/ghana-names-squad-for-afcon-2021-qualifiers-against-south-africa-sao-tome-and-principe|publisher=Ghana Football Association|accessdate=24 December 2019}} The call up was for the 2021 African Cup of Nations qualifying matches against South Africa, São Tomé and Príncipe.{{cite web|title=2021 AFCON Qualifiers:Razak Abalora Excited With Black Stars Call Up|url=https://www.modernghana.com/sports/967362/2021-afcon-qualifiers-razak-abalora-excited-with.html|publisher=Modern Ghana|accessdate=24 December 2019}}{{cite web|date=30 October 2019|title=Ghana include seven new faces for Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50234087|publisher=BBC|accessdate=24 December 2019}}

Honours

Azam

Tanzania FA Cup: 2018–19{{Cite web|last=Isabirye|first=David|date=4 June 2019|title=Wadada's Azam FC lifts Tanzania FA Cup, to play in CAF Confederation Cup|url=http://kawowo.com/2019/06/04/wadadas-azam-fc-lifts-tanzania-fa-cup-to-play-in-caf-confederation-cup/|access-date=6 February 2022|website=Kawowo Sports|language=}}
Kagame Interclub Cup: 2018{{cite web|title=Azam beat Simba to retain CECAFA Kagame Cup|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/tanzania/story/3565038/azam-beat-simba-to-retain-cecafa-kagame-cup|work=espn.com|date=13 July 2018 |accessdate=24 December 2019}}
Mapinduzi Cup: 2018,{{cite web|title=Mapinduzi Cup:Payback time as Azam beat URA to win fourth title|url=https://www.futaa.com/article/144888/mapinduzi-cup-payback-time-as-azam-beat-ura-to-win-fourth-title|publisher=futaa.com|accessdate=24 December 2019}} 2019{{cite web|title=Razark Abalora wonderful save ensure Azam FC win Mapinduzi Cup|url=https://footballghana.com/razark-abalora-wonderful-save-ensure-azam-fc-win-mapinduzi-cup|publisher=footballghana.com|accessdate=24 December 2019}}

Asante Kotoko

Ghana Premier League: 2021–22{{Cite web |date=2022-06-12 |title=Asante Kotoko crowned Ghana Premier League champions for record 24th time |url=https://ghanasoccernet.com/asante-kotoko-crowned-ghana-premier-league-champions-for-record-25th-time |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=GhanaSoccernet |language=en}}

Sheriff Tiraspol

Moldovan Super Liga: 2021–22,{{Cite web |title=Edmund Addo, Abalora and two other Ghanaians win Moldovan league with FC Sheriff |url=https://www.kickgh.com/more/ghanaians-abroad/17771-edmund-addo-abalora-and-two-other-ghanaians-win-moldovan-league-with-fc-sheriff |access-date=2022-08-10 |website=Kick Ghana |language=}} 2022–23{{Cite web |date=21 May 2023 |title=Razak Abalora and Patrick Kpozo win Moldovan Super Liga title with Sheriff Tiraspol |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/Razak-Abalora-and-Patrick-Kpozo-win-Moldovan-Super-Liga-title-with-Sheriff-Tiraspol-1770824 |access-date=21 May 2023 |website=GhanaWeb |language=}}
Moldovan Cup: 2021–22{{Cite web |title=Razak Abalora helps Sheriff Tiraspol win Moldovan Cup |url=https://ghanaguardian.com/razak-abalora-helps-sheriff-tiraspol-win-moldovan-cup |access-date=2022-08-10 |website=The Ghana Guardian News |language=en}}

Petrocub Hîncești

Moldovan Super Liga: 2023–24{{Cite web |date=12 May 2024 |title=Ghanaian trio crowned Moldovan Super Liga champions with CS Petrocub |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/Ghanaian-trio-crowned-Moldovan-Super-Liga-champions-with-CS-Petrocub-1930370 |access-date=8 September 2024 |website=Ghanaweb}}{{Cite web |last=Ciolacu |first=Dmitri |date=12 May 2024 |title=Moldovan Football: Petrocub Hîncești Clinch Historic Championship Title |url=https://moldova1.md/p/28654/moldovan-football-petrocub-hincesti-clinch-historic-championship-title |access-date=9 September 2024 |website=Moldova 1.md |language=}}
Moldovan Cup 2023–24{{Cite web |last=Conovali |first=Mihaela |date=2024-05-26 |title=Al doilea trofeu din acest sezon: Petrocub Hîncești a câștigat și Cupa Moldovei la fotbal. Cine a marcat golurile |url=https://newsmaker.md/ro/al-doilea-trofeu-din-acest-sezon-petrocub-hincesti-a-castigat-si-cupa-moldovei-la-fotbal-cine-a-marcat-golurile/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=NewsMaker |language=ro}}

Individual