Wahab Ackwei
{{short description|Ghanaian professional footballer|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Wahab Ackwei
| image =
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|10|19|df=y}}
| birth_place = Accra, Ghana
| height = {{height|m=1.83}}
| position = Defender
| currentclub = El Paso Locomotive
| clubnumber = 3
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 2015–2017
| clubs1 = Inter Allies
| caps1 = 56
| goals1 = 3
| years2 = 2018
| clubs2 = New York Red Bulls II
| caps2 = 7
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2019–2020
| clubs3 = Richmond Kickers
| caps3 = 38
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2021
| clubs4 = Loudoun United
| caps4 = 9
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2022–2023
| clubs5 = Rio Grande Valley FC
| caps5 = 55
| goals5 = 4
| years6 = 2024
| clubs6 = Colorado Springs Switchbacks
| caps6 = 5
| goals6 = 1
| years7 = 2024–
| clubs7 = El Paso Locomotive
| caps7 = 15
| goals7 = 1
| nationalyears1 =
| nationalteam1 =
| nationalcaps1 =
| nationalgoals1 =
| medaltemplates =
| pcupdate = 02:33, 20 April 2025 (UTC)
| ntupdate =
}}
Wahab Ackwei (born 19 October 1996) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a defender for USL Championship club El Paso Locomotive.
Career
=Inter Allies=
Ackwei made his debut in Ghanaian professional football during the 2015 season with Inter Allies FC in the Ghanaian Division One. Ackwei scored his first goal for Inter Allies on 20 March 2017 in a 1–0 victory over Tema Youth F.C.{{cite web |url=http://www.sportsnetghana.com/inter-allies-defender-wahab-ackwei-wants-to-add-goals-to-his-game/ |title=Inter Allies Defender Wahab Ackwei Wants To Add Goals To His Game |work=sportsnetghana.com |language= |accessdate=23 March 2017}} On 28 June 2017 he scored the loan goal for Inter Allies in a 1–0 victory over Bechem United.{{cite web |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Match-Report-Inter-Allies-1-0-Bechem-United-553482 |title=Match report: Inter Allies 1-0 Bechem United |work=ghanaweb.com |date=28 June 2017 |language= |accessdate=28 June 2017}} On 8 October 2017 Ackwei scored his team's opening goal from the penalty spot in a 2–0 victory over Medeama S.C.{{cite web |url=https://777score.ng/football/matches/inter-allies-medeama-08-10-2017-372438 |title=Match report: Inter Allies 2-0 Medeama |work=777score.ng |language= |accessdate=8 October 2017}} At the conclusion of the 2017 season in which he scored 3 goals in 23 appearances it was reported that clubs from Europe and Major League Soccer were in pursuit of the defender.{{cite web |url=https://topghananews.com/top-clubs-in-europe-and-america-chasing-inter-allies-defender-wahab-ackwei/ |title=Top clubs in Europe and America chasing Inter Allies defender Wahab Ackwei |work=topghananews.com |language= |accessdate=14 November 2017}}
Ackwei played at the club for three years before leaving at the expiration of his contract during December 2017.{{cite web |url=http://www.sunnews.info/ghana-news/index.php/2017/12/21/wahab-ackwei-leaves-inter-allies-after-3-years/ |title=Wahab Ackwei leaves Inter Allies after 3 years |work=sunnews.info |language= |accessdate=21 December 2017}} After leaving Inter Allies, it was reported that Ackwei had an offer from
Accra Hearts of Oak after a deal with Danish club Viborg FF failed to materialize.{{cite web |url=https://footballmadeinghana.com/2017/12/20/ackwei-agrees-terms-with-hearts/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223112624/http://footballmadeinghana.com/2017/12/20/ackwei-agrees-terms-with-hearts/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=23 December 2017 |title=Ackwei agrees terms with Hearts |work=sunnews.info |date=20 December 2017 |language= |accessdate=21 December 2017}}
=New York Red Bulls II=
On 14 February 2018 it was announced that Ackwei had signed with New York Red Bulls II.{{cite web |url=https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/post/2018/02/14/nyrb-ii-sign-steven-echevarria-and-wahab-ackwei |title=NYRB II Sign Steven Echevarria and Wahab Ackwei |work=newyorkredbulls.com |language= |accessdate=14 February 2018}}
= Richmond Kickers =
In March 2019, the Richmond Kickers signed Ackwei.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=22 March 2019|title=American side Richmond Kickers FC sign Ghanaian youngster Wahab Ackwei|url=https://footballghana.com/american-side-richmond-kickers-fc-sign-ghanaian-youngster-wahab-ackwei|access-date=11 February 2021|website=footballghana.com}}
= Loudoun United =
Ackwei signed with Loudoun United on 11 February 2021.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=11 February 2021|title=Loudoun United Adds Quartet of Newcomers to Squad|url=https://www.loudoununitedfc.com/news_article/show/1145823|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420221502/https://www.loudoununitedfc.com/news_article/show/1145823|archive-date=20 April 2021|access-date=11 February 2021|website=loudoununitedfc.com|url-status=dead}}
=Rio Grande Valley FC=
On 11 February 2022, Ackwei moved to USL Championship side Rio Grande Valley FC.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1208904|title=Toros Add Wahab Ackwei to Defensive Corps|date=11 February 2022}} On May 5, 2022, Ackwei scored his first goal for RGV during a 3–2 loss to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rgvfc.com/news/2022/05/06/match-recap-late-comeback-falls-short-for-rgv-fc-in-colorado%ef%bf%bc/|title=MATCH RECAP: LATE COMEBACK FALLS SHORT FOR RGV FC IN COLORADO|website=rgvfc.com|date=6 May 2022|access-date=13 May 2022}}
=Colorado Springs Switchbacks=
Following Rio Grande Valley folding Ackewi moved to Colorado Springs Switchbacks ahead of their 2024 season.{{Cite web |last=hugh.johnson@gazette.com |first=Hugh Johnson |date=2023-12-09 |title=Colorado Springs Switchbacks coach Stephen Hogan said decisions on Romario Williams, Deshane Beckford were business, club signs three |url=https://gazette.com/sports/colorado-springs-switchbacks-coach-stephen-hogan-said-decisions-on-romario-williams-deshane-beckford-were-business/article_8604311e-96e5-11ee-bfd9-9b09deb3f966.html |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=Colorado Springs Gazette |language=en}}
=El Paso Locomotive=
In August 2024, Ackwei was traded to El Paso Locomotive in exchange for Justin Dhillon.{{cite web |last1=Huichapa |first1=Alberto |title=El Paso Locomotive FC Acquire Wahab Ackwei via Transfer From Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC |url=https://www.eplocomotivefc.com/news/2024/08/08/el-paso-locomotive-fc-acquire-wahab-ackwei-via-transfer-from-colorado-springs-switchbacks-fc/ |website=EPLocomotiveFC.com |publisher=El Paso Locomotive |access-date=18 August 2024}}
Career statistics
{{updated|19 April 2025|{{Soccerway|wahab-ackwei/436207}}}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|CupAppearance in the U.S. Open Cup !colspan=2|Continental !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan=4|Inter Allies
|2015 |12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|– | colspan=2|– | 12 | 0 | |||
| 2016
|Ghana Premier League |21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|– | colspan=2|– | 21 | 0 | |||
| 2017
|Ghana Premier League |23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|– | colspan=2|– | 23 | 3 | |||
| colspan=2|Total
!56 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 3 | |
| New York Red Bulls II
|2018 |USL |7 | 0 | colspan=2|– | colspan=2|– | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |||
| rowspan=3|Richmond Kickers
|2019 |25 | 0 | 1 | 1 | colspan=2|– | 0 | 0 | 26 | 1 | ||
| 2020
|13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!38 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 1 | |
| Loudoun United FC
|2021 |9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
| rowspan=3|Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
|2022 |rowspan=2|USL Championship |31 | 2 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 | ||
| 2023
|23 | 2 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 0 | 0 | 24 | 2 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!63 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 65 | 4 | |
| rowspan=2|Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
|2024 |5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | |
| rowspan=3|El Paso Locomotive FC
|2024 |rowspan=2|USL Championship |9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
| 2025
|6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 | |
| colspan=3|Career total
!177 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 183 | 10 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Individual
- USL Championship All League Second Team: 2022{{cite web |url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1245790 |title=USL Championship Announces 2022 All-League Teams |date=2022-11-01 |website=www.uslchampionship.com |publisher=USL |location=Tampa, FL|access-date=2022-11-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101175351/https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1245790 |archive-date=2022-11-01|df=mdy-all}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{sports link}}
- {{USL League One player|wahab-ackwei}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20170715161459/http://www.interalliesfc.com/player/wahab-ackwei/ Wahab Ackwei] at Inter Allies FC
- [http://www.worldfootball.com/p/26801/ghana/W.%20Ackwei Wahab Ackwei at WorldFootball.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206002520/http://www.worldfootball.com/p/26801/ghana/W.%20Ackwei |date=6 February 2018 }}
{{El Paso Locomotive FC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ackwei, Wahab}}
Category:Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC players
Category:El Paso Locomotive FC players
Category:Ghanaian men's footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:New York Red Bulls II players
Category:Footballers from Accra
Category:Richmond Kickers players
Category:Loudoun United FC players
Category:Rio Grande Valley FC Toros players
Category:USL Championship players
Category:USL League One players
Category:Ghanaian expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States
Category:Ghanaian expatriate men's footballers
Category:21st-century Ghanaian sportsmen
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