Shahfiq Ghani

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Shahfiq Ghani

| image = 1 Shahfiq Ghani 2013.jpg

| caption = Shahfiq Ghani playing for LionsXII in 2013

| fullname = Muhammad Shahfiq bin Ghani{{cite web |url=http://lionsxii.sg/fas-names-2014-lionsxii-squad-list/ |title=FAS names 2014 LionsXII squad list |website=Football Association of Singapore |accessdate=8 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019043514/http://lionsxii.sg/fas-names-2014-lionsxii-squad-list/ |archive-date=19 October 2014 |url-status=dead }}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1992|3|17}}

| birth_place = Singapore

| height = {{convert|1.75|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| position = Forward, midfielder

| currentclub = Geylang International

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 2005–2010

| youthclubs1 = National Football Academy

| years1 = 2010–2012

| clubs1 = Young Lions

| caps1 = 37

| goals1 = 7

| years2 = 2013–2014

| clubs2 = LionsXII

| caps2 = 22

| goals2 = 5

| years3 = 2015

| clubs3 = Young Lions

| caps3 = 22

| goals3 = 4

| years4 = 2016–2017

| clubs4 = Geylang International

| caps4 = 21

| goals4 = 3

| years5 = 2018–2022

| clubs5 = Hougang United

| caps5 = 26

| goals5 = 6

| years6 = 2023–2024

| clubs6 = Geylang International

| caps6 = 15

| goals6 = 1

| caps7 =

| goals7 =

| nationalyears1 = 2010–

| nationalteam1 = Singapore U23

| nationalcaps1 = 15

| nationalgoals1 = 3

| nationalyears2 = 2012–

| nationalteam2 = Singapore

| nationalcaps2 = 14

| nationalgoals2 = 2

| club-update = 30 December 2017

| nationalteam-update = 22:23, 25 November 2016 (UTC)

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}}

{{MedalCountry|{{fb|SIN}}}}

}}

Muhammad Shahfiq bin Ghani (born 17 March 1992), also known as Shahfiq Shahfiq or just Shahfiq, is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays either as a centre forward or attacking midfielder for Malaysia Super League club Negeri Sembilan and the Singapore national team. He is known as a free-kick specialist.

Club career

=Young Lions=

Shahfiq began his club career with S.League club Young Lions in 2010. He scored 7 goals in 37 competitive matches over three Seasons from 2010 to 2012.

=LionsXII=

Shahfiq was selected to be in the LionsXII squad in 2013.{{cite web| url=http://lionsxii.sg/lionsxii-2013-unveiled/| title=LionsXII 2013 unveiled| website=LionsXII official website| accessdate=8 March 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304003128/http://lionsxii.sg/lionsxii-2013-unveiled/| archive-date=4 March 2016| url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |url=http://lionsxii.sg/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/LionsXII_Team_2013.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=9 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214515/http://lionsxii.sg/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/LionsXII_Team_2013.pdf |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead }} He contributed with 5 goals in 13 MSL matches as LionsXII won the 2013 Malaysia Super League. He drew criticism from head coach V. Sundramoorthy for his dismissal for slapping Sarawak's Muamer Salibašić in a Malaysia Cup match on 24 August 2013.{{cite web| url=http://www.todayonline.com/sports/football/shahfiq-let-team-down-lionsxii-coach-sundram| title=Shahfiq let the team down: LionsXII coach Sundram| publisher=Today| date=25 August 2013}}

A spinal injury threatened to rule Shahfiq out for the start of the 2014 season.{{cite web| url=http://news.asiaone.com/news/sports/msl-another-blow-fandi-shahfiq-injures-spine| title=MSL: Another blow for Fandi as Shahfiq injures spine| publisher=The New Paper| date=6 January 2014}} He missed the Charity Cup match against Pahang and the Malaysia FA Cup match against DRB-Hicom, returning as a 74th-minute substitute against Selangor on 25 January. In total, he spent only 77 minutes on the pitch for his club in 2014.{{Cite news|url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/features/forgotten-man-shahfiq-ghani-determined-win-back-fans-hearts|title=The Forgotten Man: Shahfiq Ghani determined to win back fans' hearts|date=2016-10-24|work=FourFourTwo|access-date=2017-04-21|language=en-SG}}

During his two-year spell with LionsXII, he scored six goals in 31 appearances.

=Return to Young Lions=

In 2015, Shahfiq return to the Young Lions, where he scored 5 goals in 22 league appearances for his club.

=Geylang International=

In 2016, it was announced that Shahfiq would be joining Geylang International at the start of the 2016 S.League season on a 2 year contract. However, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee during pre-season training and was ruled out for 6 months.{{Cite news|url=http://www.todayonline.com/sports/football/shahfiq-out-6-months-knee-injury|title=Shahfiq out for 6 months with knee injury|work=TODAYonline|access-date=2017-04-21|language=en}} This resulted in Shafiq missing most of the games of the season although he did make a return during the second half of the season. He returned to full fitness in July and made a surprise cameo appearance in the League Cup Plate Final against Hougang United. He marked his return from injury by scoring a goal for his club in a friendly match against the Cambodia national football team and laying off an assist for a last gasp goal in a 2-1 victory over Balestier Khalsa in the league.

He scored in his first goal for the club during the last game of the season in a 4-1 win over Home United.{{Cite news|url=https://tnp.straitstimes.com/sports/singapore-football/geylang-come-short|title=Geylang come up short|date=2016-10-26|work=The New Paper|access-date=2017-04-21|language=en}} He came back strongly enough to be recalled back to the national team and making the final 23 for Singapore's disappointing 2016 AFF Championship.{{Cite news|url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/news/sundram-names-final-23-man-aff-suzuki-cup-squad|title=Sundram names final 23-man AFF Suzuki Cup squad|date=2016-11-18|work=FourFourTwo|access-date=2017-04-21|language=en-SG}}

Shahfiq scored his first goal of the 2017 S.League season in a 2-0 win over Brunei DPMM FC while also winning another penalty which teammate Víctor Coto converted.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espnfcasia.com/football/report?gameId=473944|title=Geylang International vs. Brunei DPMM - Football Match Report - April 20, 2017 - ESPN|website=ESPNFC.com|access-date=2017-04-21}}

=Hougang United=

After being rumoured to join UKM F.C. in Malaysia, Shahfiq signed for Hougang United in 2018.

International career

Shahfiq was part of the Singapore national under-23 football team that won the bronze medal at the 2013 Southeast Asian Games.

He earned his first senior international cap in a friendly match against Hong Kong on 15 August 2012.{{cite web | url = http://www.redsports.sg/2012/08/19/football-singapore-hong-kong/ | title = Football: Singapore beat Hong Kong 2–0 for first win in 9 matches }} His first international goal came against China PR in a friendly match in 2013.{{Cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-sg/match/china-pr-vs-singapore/1477259/report|title=China PR 6 - 1 Singapore Match report - 9/6/13 Friendlies - Goal.com|website=www.goal.com|language=en-sg|access-date=2017-04-21}}

Personal life

Shahfiq graduated from the Singapore Sports School in 2008.{{cite web| url=http://www.sportsschool.edu.sg/SportsFootballDetails.aspx?id=1&tabid=4| title=Elite Student-Athletes| website=Singapore Sports School| accessdate=11 March 2014| url-status=dead| archiveurl=https://archive.today/20140311134134/http://www.sportsschool.edu.sg/SportsFootballDetails.aspx?id=1&tabid=4| archivedate=11 March 2014| df=dmy-all}}

Career statistics

=Club=

{{updated|match played 27 Feb 2022}}. Caps and goals may not be correct.

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="2"\|S.League !colspan="2"\|Singapore Cup !colspan="2"\|Singapore League Cup !colspan="2"\|Asia !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="4"\|Young Lions \|2010 \|16	3	4	0\|

\|colspan='2'\|—	20	3
2011 \|8	2	colspan='2'\|—	colspan='2'\|—	colspan='2'\|—	8	2
2012 \|13	2	colspan='2'\|—	4	0	colspan='2'\|—	17	2
Total !37	7	4	0	4	0	0	0	45	7
Club !Season !colspan="2"\|Malaysia Super League !colspan="2"\|Malaysia FA Cup !colspan="2"\|Malaysia Cup !colspan="2"\|Asia !colspan="2"\|Total
rowspan="3"\|LionsXII \|2013{{cite web\| url=http://lionsxii.sg/fixtures-and-results/?league=malaysia-super-league-2013\| title=LionsXII fixtures and results for 2013 season\| website=LionsXII official website\| accessdate=6 March 2014\| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216204656/http://lionsxii.sg/fixtures-and-results/?league=malaysia-super-league-2013\| archive-date=16 February 2018\| url-status=dead}} \|13	5	0	0	6	1	colspan='2'\|—	19	6
2014{{cite web\| url=http://lionsxii.sg/fixtures-and-results/?league=malaysia-super-league-2014\| title=LionsXII fixtures and results for 2014 season\| website=LionsXII official website\| accessdate=6 March 2014\| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309085113/http://lionsxii.sg/fixtures-and-results/?league=malaysia-super-league-2014\| archive-date=9 March 2014\| url-status=dead}} \|9	0	0	0	0	0	colspan='2'\|—	9	0
Total !22	5	0	0	6	1	0	0	28	6
rowspan="1"\|Club !rowspan="1"\|Season !colspan="2"\|S.League !colspan="2"\|Singapore Cup !colspan="2"\|Singapore League Cup !colspan="2"\|Asia !colspan="2"\|Total
rowspan="2"\|Young Lions \|2015 \|??	??	??	??\|

\|colspan='2'\|—	??	??
Total !??	??	??	??	??	??	??	??	??	??
rowspan="3"\|Geylang International \|2016 \|6	1	0	0	1	0	colspan='2'\|—	7	1
2017 \|17	5	1	0	2	0	colspan='2'\|—	20	5
Total !23	6	1	0	3	0	0	0	27	6
rowspan="6"\|Hougang United \|2018 \|12	2	2	0	0	0	colspan='2'\|—	14	2
2019 \|10	8	2	0	0	0	colspan='2'\|—	12	8
2020 \|11	1	0	0	1	0	3	0	15	1
2021 \|11	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	11	1
2022 \|15	1	4	0	0	0	2	0	21	1
Total !59	12	8	0	2	0	5	0	73	13
rowspan="2"\|Geylang International \|2023 \|0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total !0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
colspan="2"\|Career total !137	29	9	0	15	1	3	0	155	31

Young Lions and LionsXII are ineligible for qualification to AFC competitions in their respective leagues.
Young Lions withdrew from the 2011 and 2012 Singapore Cup and the 2011 Singapore League Cup due to their players participating in AFC and AFF youth competitions.

=International=

International goals

class="wikitable"

! No !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition

align=center|1

6 September 2013

TEDA Football Stadium, Tianjin, China PR

align=center|1–1

align=center|6–1

Friendly

colspan=3\|Singapore national team
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Year	Apps	Goals
2012	2	0
2013	6	1
2014	1	0
Total\|\|9\|\|1

Statistics accurate as of match played 5 March 2014

= U23 International goals =

No	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
class="wikitable"
1	8 June 2013	Indonesia	{{fbu\|23\|INA}}	align=center\|1-0	1-1	U23 International Friendly
2	14 September 2013	Darul Makmur Stadium, Kuantan	{{fbu\|23\|THA}}	align=center\|1-0	2-1	2013 Merdeka Tournament
3	2 April 2014	Hougang Stadium, Singapore	{{fbu\|23\|INA}}	align=center\|1-2	1-2	U23 International Friendly
4	14 September 2014	Ansan Wa~ Stadium, Korea	{{fbu\|23\|PLE}}	align=center\|1-0	2-1	2014 Asian Games
5	14 September 2014	Ansan Wa~ Stadium, Korea	{{fbu\|23\|PLE}}	align=center\|2-0	2-1	2014 Asian Games
6	16 May 2015	Shizuoka, Japan	{{flagicon\|JPN}} Shizuoka Sangyo University SC	align=center\|1-0	3-0	U23 International Friendly
7	16 May 2015	Shizuoka, Japan	{{flagicon\|JPN}} Shizuoka Sangyo University SC	align=center\|2-0	3-0	U23 International Friendly
8	22 May 2015	Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore	{{fbu\|23\|LAO}}	align=center\|3-1	5-1	U23 International Friendly
9	30 May 2015	Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore	{{fbu\|23\|TLS}}	align=center\|2-0	2-0	U23 International Friendly