Abdul Rasaq Ishiekwene Akeem (born 16 June 2001), commonly known as Abdul Rasaq, is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays as a forward for Singapore Premier League club Lion City Sailors and the Singapore National Team.

Abdul Rasaq
Abdul Rasaq warming up for Lion City Sailors in 2024
Personal information
Full name Abdul Rasaq Ishiekwene Akeem
Date of birth (2001-06-16) 16 June 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth Singapore
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Winger, Striker
Team information
Current team
Lion City Sailors
Number 21
Youth career
NFA
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2022 Young Lions 32 (6)
2023– Lion City Sailors 20 (12)
International career
2019–2022 Singapore U19 11 (0)
2019– Singapore U22 1 (0)
2023– Singapore U23 7 (0)
2024– Singapore 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:14, 3 November 2019 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17:14, 3 November 2019 (UTC)

Club career

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Young Lions

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Abdul Rasaq was promoted from the National Football Academy to the Singapore Premier League club, Young Lions ahead of the 2019 season. He scored his first professional career goal against Geylang International on 18 August 2019. In the 2022 season, Abdul Rasaq was featured in most of the matches scoring four goals throughout the season. He amassed a total of 32 appearances and 6 goals throughout his time at the club.

Lion City Sailors

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After completing his National Service with the Singapore Police Force, Abdul Rasaq left Young Lions to join Lion City Sailors ahead of the 2023 season.[1] On 10 April 2023, he scored his first brace of his career in a 5–0 win against Hougang United. Abdul Rasaq would go on to have a breakout season scoring 10 goals in 18 league matches becoming the joint local top goalscorer alongside teammate, Shawal Anuar. He then suffered a long term injury in late August 2023 and was not featured in the 2023 Singapore Cup and the 2023–24 AFC Champions League for the club.

Abdul Rasaq make his return on 14 September 2024 during the 2024–25 season where he scored his first goal on the season by converting a penalty in a 6–0 win over Tanjong Pagar United. In the next match against Balestier Khalsa on 22 September, he scored in a 3–1 win.

International career

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Abdul Rasaq is born to a Nigerian father and Singaporean mother. He is a practicing muslim.

Abdul Rasaq make his Singapore national team debut on 14 November 2024 in a 3–2 win over Myanmar.

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 23 June 2024[2]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Young Lions 2019 Singapore Premier League 11 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 1
2020 Singapore Premier League 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
2021 Singapore Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2022 Singapore Premier League 16 4 3 1 0 0 0 0 19 5
Total 29 5 3 1 0 0 0 0 32 6
Lion City Sailors 2023 Singapore Premier League 18 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 10
2024–25 Singapore Premier League 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2
Total 20 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 12
Career total 49 17 3 1 0 0 0 0 52 18
Notes

International statistics

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U23 International caps

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No Date Venue Opponent Result Competition
1 24 March 2023 Jalan Besar Stadium, Jalan Besar, Singapore   Hong Kong 0–1 (lost) Merlion Cup
2 26 March 2023 Jalan Besar Stadium, Jalan Besar, Singapore   Cambodia 1–2 (lost) Merlion Cup
3 29 April 2023 Prince Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia   Thailand 1–3 (lost) 2023 SEA Games
4 3 May 2023 Prince Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia   Vietnam 1–3 (lost) 2023 SEA Games
5 6 May 2023 Prince Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia   Laos 0-0 (draw) 2023 SEA Games
6 6 Sept 2023 Việt Trì Stadium, Phú Thọ, Vietnam   Yemen 0-3 (lost) 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification
7 9 Sept 2023 Việt Trì Stadium, Phú Thọ, Vietnam   Guam 1-1 (draw) 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification

U22 International caps

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No Date Venue Opponent Result Competition
1 9 October 2019 Bishan Stadium, Bishan, Singapore   United Arab Emirates 0-3 (lost) Friendly

U19 International caps

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No Date Venue Opponent Result Competition
1 19 April 2019 Po Kong Village Road Park, Diamond Hill, Hong Kong   Vietnam 0–1 (lost) 2019 Jockey Cup
2 20 April 2019 Po Kong Village Road Park, Diamond Hill, Hong Kong   Hong Kong 0–2 (lost) 2019 Jockey Cup
3 22 April 2019 Po Kong Village Road Park, Diamond Hill, Hong Kong   Myanmar 1–2 (lost) 2019 Jockey Cup
4 7 August 2019 Thanh Long Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam   Thailand 1-1 (draw) 2019 AFF U-18 Youth Championship
5 9 August 2019 Thống Nhất Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam   Malaysia 1-3 (lost) 2019 AFF U-18 Youth Championship
6 11 August 2019 Gò Đậu Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam   Vietnam 0-3 (lost) 2019 AFF U-18 Youth Championship
7 13 August 2019 Thống Nhất Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam   Cambodia 1-0 (won) 2019 AFF U-18 Youth Championship
8 15 August 2019 Thống Nhất Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam   Australia 0-5 (lost) 2019 AFF U-18 Youth Championship
9 6 November 2019 Aung San Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar   South Korea 0-11 (lost) 2020 AFC U-19 Championship qualification
10 8 November 2019 Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar   China 0-2 (lost) 2020 AFC U-19 Championship qualification
11 10 November 2019 Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar   Myanmar 0-8 (lost) 2020 AFC U-19 Championship qualification

Honours

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Club

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Lion City Sailors

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References

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  1. ^ "An opportunity to relish: Rasaq".
  2. ^ Abdul Rasaq Akeem at Soccerway. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
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