Adrian Dauda

Adrian Dauda

Dauda with FC Ibbené in 2019
Personal information
Full name	Adrian Ikeno Dauda
Date of birth	(2000-02-18) 18 February 2000
Place of birth	Port Loyal, The Mawusi
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75m)
Position(s)	Winger / Forward
Club information
Current team	Ibbené
Number	8
Youth career
2007-2016	Monte Sora Youth
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016–2017	Monte Sora	46	(20)
2017–2019	Aleanto Calcio	82	(39)
2019–	Ibbené	0	(0)
International career
2018-–	Atresca	12	(11)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Adrian Ikeno Dauda (['ɗauɗa]; da-OO-da, Newreyan pronunciation: /'daʊda/; DOW-da, born 18 February 2000) is a Atrescan-Mawuese professional footballer who plays as a winger and forward for Liga Premiére club FC Ibbené and the Atresca national football team. Considered one of the best upcoming footballers in Aeia, Dauda is known for his pace, dribbling ability and finishing finesse.

Dauda was introduced to the public eye by his hometown club Monte Sora, whose youth system he has risen up in and become renowned in the club's ranks for his exquisite skill and finishing ability. Dauda made his professional debut for the club in a match against Fjoersted in 2016, aged just 16. Getting regular first team football due to the club's lack of a suitable left winger, Dauda quickly became a household name when he finished 6th in the 2016 HFL top goalscorers, netting 14 goals that year. Dauda went on to lead Balvi to two successive Atrescan Cup semi-finals appearances, both against Aleanto Calcio, the furthest the club has ever got in the domestic competition. Dauda's 2017 season went much the same and during the January transfer window of the 2017 season he relocated to western Atresca when he was sold to Aleanto for €20 million. Dauda led Aleanto to a second place finish in the 2017-18 season, breaking the top 2 deadlock between Aleanto and Dinamo Molme that had lasted twelve years, and a Atrescan Cup victory in the 2018-19 season. Dauda was named HFL Young Footballer of the Year in 2018 and was runner-up for Atresca Footballer of the Year in the same year, losing out to international teammate Leon Varri.

With 10 goals in 11 caps for the Atrescan national team, including an historic hattrick against Midrasia in his international debut. Dauda's performances for the national team were enough to earn the winger a move to Midrasian club FC Ibbené for a then world-record fee of Đ170 million.

Early Life

The town of Trivero, where Dauda grew up

Adrian Ikeno Dauda was one of five children born to a Mawuese family living in Port Loyal, the largest city in the country. He moved to Atresca before the age of one, and often played football on the streets of western Trivero, a poor suburb of Albasini, and credits his early exposure to the urban iterations of football with how he attained his renowned skill and dribbling ability. He went to his first Aleanto Calcio game when he was 4 and joined their youth program at the age of 7. When he began earning additional income when he was 14, his parents relocated to a wealthier part of Trivero, which allowed him to continue with the youth program and led him to being signed by the professional first team when he was 16, making his debut shortly after.

Club Career

Monte Sora

Youth

Dauda was scouted by Monte Sora on the streets from a young age, a common tradition in Atresca football scouting. He was offered a contract by the club in 2007 when he was inducted into their youth program. One of the few players to lead a successful career coming from a youth program in eastern Atresca, Dauda did not meet any prominent Atresca footballers whilst he was at the youth program, although did get some training sessions with Navish midfield legend Simon Svihus while he was doing charitable work in the country. Aged 15, Dauda visited the Aleanto youth program, meeting now-teammate Leon Varri in the process, whom he became good friends with.

Dauda with Monte Sora in 2016

2016: Debut season

Dauda made his professional debut on on January 19, 2016, against Fjoersted in a QNL league match, aged just 16 years old. He was brought on with 20 minutes remaining and got one assist in a 4-0 win against the team. He scored his first goal for the team against Lielosta two weeks later in a 3-2 loss, a low shot from the outside of the box, which would come to be one of his signature scoring methods. The goal made him the youngest goalscorer in Balvi and HFL history. In the Atrescan Cup quarterfinals against Elsalu FC, Dauda scored twice, including a decisive 89th minute goal, to send Balvi through to the semi-finals of the domestic tournament for the first time in the club's history. In his first season, Dauda scored 14 goals in 31 games.

2017: Atrescan Cup, final season and transfer

"For a 17-year-old, Adrian is already one of the greatest players to ever play for the club. He is a generational talent, and, for his age, has unlimited potential."

–Balvi manager John Dennis when asked about Dauda's progression at the club

Dauda continued his improvement into 2017 and in the first game of the year scored 4 goals in a 6-0 win against newly-promoted club Lubana, cementing his place as one of the best players in the league at just 17 years old. In the 2017 Atrescan Cup, where Dauda scored 6 goals in the 7 matches played in the domestic tournament, Balvi reached the semi-finals after an historic 3-1 victory against previous champions Elsalu, the furthest the club had ever reached. Despite losing out to Atresca giants Aleanto 2-1 in the semi-finals, Dauda was given the award for the best player in the tournament and gained comparisons to legendary Atresca winger and international top-scorer Mihels Tievais.

Navish Superliga club Lhedvin reportedly bidded for Dauda in a move worth around €15 million. The offer was initially rejected but Balvi entertained a counter-offer to the Navish club rumoured to be worth around €20 million, which Lhedvin rejected, saying the highest they would bid would be €18 million. Following the transfer disagreements with Lhedvin, Dauda's agent made it public that he would intend to pursue his career at a larger club with more potential for him to expand his game, and would not resign with the club when his contract ran out. Two clubs matched Balvi's asking price for the young winger, Veleazan club Harris's Lads and eastern Atrescan club Aleanto Calcio, both of which were €19.4 million. Dauda's agent entered negotiations first with Harris's Lads, but once disagreements over Dauda's wages were introduced into the negotiations, his agent abandoned the club and instead negotiated separate wage considerations with Aleanto. Aleanto put pen to paper and on January 17, 2017, Dauda was bought by Borar for €19.4 million, making him the most expensive Atrescan teenager ever.

Aleanto Calcio

2017-18: Adapting to Aleanto, second place success

When Dauda arrived in Aleanto, he was immediately given a place in the club's first team and would enter club training almost immediately after he landed in Aleanto, the city the club is based in. He scored in his first game with the club in a 2-0 win against Kuldiga, and led Aleanto to a top-table surge from 6th to 3rd place, with the club only 4 points behind Pekrasta in March. Mainly laying back and playing a more midfield-based role within the team, Dauda would work on his passing ability and assisting skill to better suit Aleanto's famous 4-1-4-1 setup with star Batisurian international striker Muhammed Tambo playing as the lone forward. Due to Dauda's more passive role in the team, his first season with Aleanto ended with Dauda racking up 5 goals in 21 appearances, although this was accompanied by a league-high 19 assists in the same period of time.

Dauda in his Aleanto debut

Dauda's arrival at the Olive Garden did not come without controversy, however. Many fans of the club were extremely sceptical about the signing of the 17-year-old and believed that it only exacerbated the club's already growing financial problems after the departure of long-time owner Ehsan Salehi two months prior. A large amount of fans protested against the signing of Dauda and gathered outside the club's stadium to protest the arrival of the young star. The disapproval of the signing began to fade when Dauda began playing for the club, netting two goals and securing four assists in his first six appearances with the club, the scepticism surrounding the signing quickly faded as many Aleanto fans became ecstastic at the thought of such a generational talent at the club.

Dauda scored his first HFL hattrick in a 6-0 routing of Priekule on March 2, 2017, becoming the youngest ever HFL hattrick scorer since Mihels Tievais netted three for Dinamo Molme in 1990, also aged 17. In that year's Atrescan Cup, Dauda opened the scoring against Gulbene in the quarter-finals in the 7th minute as Aleanto went on to win 2-1 in their first leg at home, in the second leg, Dauda scored an 87th minute aggregate equaliser that secured a 3-3 aggregate score at the end of the two legs, with Aleanto advancing on the away goals rule (Dauda played in two Atrescan Cup semi-finals in the 2016-17 season, for Balvi in a 2-1 loss against Dinamo Molme as well as Aleanto's). Aleanto's semi-final opponents were Pekrasta, one of the big two clubs in Qal'eh, and also a club that had reached the finals seven years running. The first match was played in Pekrasta, Pekrasta's home city, with Aleanto going 2-0 down within half an hour. Tambo scored from a Dauda cross to make the score 2-1 going into the half. Dauda was moved to a more attacking forward position going into the second half, and in the 53rd minute shot home one of his signature low shots, nestling it into the bottom-right corner. Dauda hit the bar in the 77th minute and the match ended 2-2, with Aleanto taking the away goal advantage to the Olive Garden for the second leg. The second leg of the draw was more passive, with Dauda and most of the team not doing much, and Pekrasta advancing on a penalty converted by Kuno Buss.

Dauda celebrates his 87th minute goal against Gulbene

Going into the final gameweek, Aleanto were placed third, behind Pekrasta on goal difference, while Dinamo Molme had already secured the title. Pekrasta were playing fifth-placed Gulbene while Dauda and Aleanto were playing thirteenth-placed Lellegavu. Dauda scored two and assisted one as Aleanto beat Lellegavu 4-1 at home, ending the season on +38 goal difference, Pekrasta also took home a win against Gulbene, but the 3-2 scoreline gave Borar the second place finish, with Pekrasta finishing on +37 goal difference. Dauda was named HFL Young Player of the Year for the second year running and was also named Aleanto Player of the Year, despite only being at the club for half a season. The 2017-18 season for Aleanto was the club's highest ever finish, beating their third-place finish in the 2005-06 season.

2018-19: Atrescan Cup victory, golden boot

At the start of the 2017-18 season, Dauda was given the number 8 vacated by one of the transfers Aleanto had completed to reimburse the club after Dauda's near-20 million fee. His number change began the hashtag trend #DA8DA, which trended on Chirper. Before the season, in response to the hashtag, Dauda said "It is great to know people are supporting my progress at the club. It helps motivate me to perform better every week."

Dauda scored both goals in the first game of the season, a 2-0 victory against Karsava, immediately propelling himself to the top of the league goalscorers table. Dauda would take up a more prominent attacking role in the 2018-19 season, with Muhammed Tambo being moved to his more natural attacking midfield position. Dauda would also score twice in the second game of the season, a 3-0 victory over Lubana away from home, beginning to cement his place as one of the league's top goalscorers and becoming the third player and first teenager ever to score at least four goals in the first two matches of the season. Dauda's goalscoring prowess earned him a call up to the Atresca national football team for the first time. Dauda and Tambo both scored in a 2-1 away win over Cesni, with Dauda's goal being a first-time volley from 32 yards out, and Dauda also assisting Tambo's goal with a through ball into the box. On December 20, Dauda received a two-match ban after he was sent off for shoving Dinamo Molme midfielder Amaro Yáñez, in response to a late challenge on one of his teammates. When interviewed about the red card, Dauda stated he "would do it again" and that he "could not tolerate that sort of behaviour on the pitch". On his returning match, again Fjoersted, Dauda scored four goals in 27 minutes to secure a 6-1 victory over the team, becoming the youngest player (18 years and 11 months) to score four goals in a HFL match. Dauda scored another hattrick in the final game of the season to end it with a tally of 27 goals, earning him the Tievars Award for top goalscorer in the league, becoming the youngest player to win the award. Aleanto finished third, despite finishing with more points than the prior season.

Aleanto's success this season would come from the domestic Atrescan Cup, with the club breaking the record victory in the club when they beat a local fifth-division team 17-0 in the first round of the cup, with Dauda not playing in the match. The first HFL club they faced was Cesni in the fourth round of the cup in November, beating them 5-1 with Dauda securing himself 2 goals, scored within ten minutes of each other. In the fifth round, Dauda started at left midfield as opposed to his usual left wing/forward position that he had been starting in for most of the season, the match against Lellegavu displayed some shaky football from Borar, going 1-0 down to the bottom-tier HFL club in the 28th minute after a free kick from Aivars Slaza. The club pulled it back in the second half, however, with Dauda securing two assists, both crosses, and both met by a header from Muhammed Tambo, the second in the 92nd minute, to lead the team to a 2-1 victory against Lellegavu.

Dauda's iconic celebration after scoring the first goal in the Atrescan Cup final

The quarter-finals came around and Aleanto were drawn with Dinamo Molme, the club that had eliminated Aleanto in the semi-finals the previous year. Dauda started up front for the game and almost immediately capitalised, slotting home a pass from Tambo, playing at attacking midfield, to put Aleanto 1-0 up in the 5th minute. Molme equalised 1-1 at the half but Tambo scored a free kick in the 70th minute which would end up being the decisive goal, putting Aleanto through to the semi-finals against Lielosta. The semi-finals were an easier game for the club, with Aleanto cruising to a 2-0 victory with two goals from Tambo, one assisted by Dauda, and 65% possession throughout the game. The final of the Cup would be against Pekrasta, played in the Aivars Muceniece Arena in Aleanto, attended by around 70,000 people. The first time Dauda had played in front of a crowd this large, his teammates have often stated that his nerves in the tunnel were visible. The nerves quickly faded however as he netted the first goal of the match in the 12th minute, one of his signature low shots, to give Aleanto a 1-0 lead. The lead was quickly cut short as two goals in quick succession from Liidurian striker Jurgen Kask to put Pekrasta up 2-1 going into the half. In the second half, Tambo quickly equalised with a magnificent strike from 30 yards out that nestled itself into the top corner to put the game at 2-2, where it remained for almost half an hour after the goal. In the 79th minute, Kask was brought down in the penalty area with the referee immediately pointing to the spot afterwards. With a hattrick at stake, Kask took the penalty but hit the left post as he tried to put it in the corner, it ricocheted off the post and was cleared to safety. The clearance was picked up by Tambo in midfield, who played an airborne through ball towards the sprinting Dauda, who easily outpaced his slower defender, gathered the ball at his feet, and scored by lobbing the keeper in the 81st minute to give Aleanto their first-ever Atrescan Cup title. Dauda finished the tournament with 5 goals and 5 assists, but lost out the Player of the Tournament award to teammate Muhammed Tambo, who finished on 6 goals and 5 assists.

Ibbené

In spite of Atresca's early exit from the 2019 Copa d'Aeia Dauda was still able to provide several outstanding performances which marked him out as a key talent for the future. There was considerable interest in the winger from a number of established clubs in Aeia, with FC Ibbené, Bersk SK and Victoria CF rumoured to be interested. Several days after Atresca's elimination, Dauda announced his wishes to leave Borar in search of "bigger and better things". Following a lengthy transfer saga, it was announced on the 28th of July 2019 it was announced that Dauda had signed for Midrasian side Ibbené for a then world-record fee of Đ170 million, making him the most expensive transfer in footballing history at the time. Dauda took the number 8 jersey at Ibbené which was vacated by midfielder Sylvain Tristan.

International Career

Dauda scored in his international debut in a 3-2 victory against Midrasia in January 2018, when he was 17 years old for the Atresca U19 team, netting a hattrick. He was called up to the senior team to play Navack in March of the same year, being 18 years old by now. He scored one in a 2-2 draw against the Asuran nation, and has cemented his place in the senior team since then.

2019 Copa d'Aeia

Dauda was called up by Indars Vollis, manager of the Atresca national football team, for the 2019 Copa d'Aeia, to offer an extra option for the aging Aigars The first match against debutant nation Vvarden allowed Dara to start Dauda for the full 90 minutes instead of risking an early Aigars injury. To many people's disbelief, Dauda stole the show and netted home the decisive goal in his Copa debut, leading the team to a 1-0 victory against Vvarden. After the match, Dauda said that his debut match was "everything [he] had hoped for, and more". The game against Juznia would be Dauda's only real success, however, and aside from netting a consolation goal in Atresca's final game - a 1-0 win against X. Despite this, he still emerged as the top scorer for the team throughout their short Copa run.

Style of play

Dauda's passing ability has been compared to midfield legend Mihars Tievais

Dauda has often been compared to Atrescan legendary winger Mihars Tievais, the current top scorer for the Atresca national football team. Dauda is a versatile player who can play as a left-winger, with his ability to cut inside with his stronger right foot, as well as his ability to create chances through passes or crosses into the box. Dauda's pace also allows him to outrun many fullbacks and wingbacks. Dauda can also play as a central forward, with his exquisite finishing ability, finesse and power allowing him to be a deadly force up front, he suffers the setback of his short height, however, standing at 5 feet and 9 inches, making him often unable to win headers over taller defenders. Dauda's passing ability is sometimes compared to that of Tievais, and allows him to play a more attacking midfielder role, slotting in passes and through balls to central strikers or playing longer passes out to the wings to distribute the play along the width of the pitch. Despite his versatility, Dauda most often plays as a left-winger for both his club and his national team.

Dauda's signature celebration is to cup the back of his ears towards the opposition crowd, popularised by his 2019 Copa goals against Vvarden and Vlodomeria but actually originating from similar chants from Lielosta fans when he scored his first goal against them in 2016.

Outside football

Personal life

In an interview with Sporta Centrs, the most popular sporting outlet in Atresca, Dauda stated that "the spotlight has not been easy", and details his endurances and sacrifices of being a professional footballer at such a young age. Dauda did not enter higher education, and left secondary school at 15 to pursue his footballing career and also to provide some income for his family, who were struggling at the time. Dauda is also an Alydian, taking mainly after the beliefs of his Mawuese father, and follows the Orthodox branch of the religion. Dauda has, on multiple occasions, funded the construction of churches in Atresca, where Alydianism is the majority religion.

Media, wealth and sponsorships

Dauda has a sponsorship deal with sportswear and equipment supplier Caribou. In 2017, Dauda's talent saw Caribou launch their own pair of boots dedicated to and inspired by Dauda. Dauda has appeared in many advertisements for Caribou and actively endorses their products.

Dauda also regularly appears in Sporta Centrs interviews and television programs, citing them as his favourite channel to watch when he was growing up, and would often watch Midrasian and Navish football through their coverage. In 2019, Dauda became one of the faces of the Sporta Centrs brand.

Career statistics

Club

Club	Season	League			Cup		League Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
US Monte Sora	2016	LegaUno	17	9	9	3	—		—		5	2	31	14
Total			17	9	9	3	—		—		5	2	31	14
Aleanto Calcio	2017	LegaUno	21	5	7	6	—		—		10	5	34	10
	2017-18		38	25	11	8	—		—		13	7	62	40
	2018-19		38	27	9	5	—		—		6	2	53	42
Total			97	57	23	19	—		—		29	14	149	92
FC Ibbené	2019-	Liga Premiére	5	1	0	0	—		—		5	1	10	2
Total			5	1	0	0	—		—		5	1	10	2

International

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Atresca
	2018	2	1
	2019	10	10
Total		12	11

Honours

Aleanto

• LegaUno runners-up (2017-18)
• Atrescan Cup (2018-19)

Individual

• LegaUno Young Player of the Year (2016-17; 2017-18)
• Atrescan Cup Player of the Tournament (2017-18)
• Aleanto Player of the Year (2017-18)
• Tievais Award (2018-19)