Sonia Opoku (born 25 December 2001) is a Ghanaian international footballer who plays as a midfielder for the Indian Women's League club Misaka United and the Ghana women's national team.[1][2] She previously played for Ghanaian club Ampem Darkoa Ladies.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 25 December 2001 | ||
| Place of birth | Ghana | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Misaka United | ||
| Number | 8 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2014–2022 | Ampem Darkoa Ladies | ||
| 2022 | Trabzonspor | 8 | (1) |
| 2022–2023 | 1207 Antalya Spor | 16 | (5) |
| 2023– | Misaka United | ||
| International career | |||
| 2016–2017 | Ghana U17 | ||
| 2021– | Ghana | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 January 2023 | |||
Club career
editOpoku started her career with Ampem Darkoa Ladies. In 2017, she suffered an injury that kept her out for close to three years until 2019 when she underwent surgery and recovery processes.[3] She returned to playing in 2020 during the 2020–21 Ghana Women's Premier League season. Opoku played a key role in her return by helping Ampem Darkoa to a first place finish in the Northern Zone league and qualifying for the play-off final.[4] Ampem Darko however lost the final to Hasaacas Ladies losing by 2–0. Opoku was adjudged the NASCO player of the match for her great performance even though her team lost.[5]
In the Ghana Women's FA Cup, Opoku also played a key role in getting Ampem-Darkoa to do final by scoring the winning goal in their semi-final fixture against Thunder Queens. She scored the goal in the 92nd minute of extra time after the match remained goalless at full time.[6][7] In the FA Cup final, Ampem Darkoa lost the final again to Hasaacas Ladies by 2–0. Opoku was however adjudged the player of the season.[8][9]
By March 2022, she moved to Turkey and signed with Trabzonspor to play in the second half of the 2021–22 Turkish Women's Super League season. In the 2022–23 Turkish Women's Football Super League, she transferred to 1207 Antalya Spor.[10]
On 5 April 2023, Opoku joined Indian Women's League club Misaka United as one of the foreign players.[10]
International career
editOpoku was a member of the Ghana U-17 women's team from 2016 to 2018. En route to the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, she suffered an ACL injury during their final training camp session which ended her chances of featuring at the tournament.[11] Due to the recurring nature of the injury she was kept out of featuring in the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup after being part of the squad during the initial qualifiers.[12][13]
Opoku earned her first senior national team call up in July 2021 ahead of the Aisha Buhari Cup and 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations qualifiers against Nigeria.[14][2] She made her international debut during an Aisha Buhari Cup friendly match against South African women's national team on 17 September 2021.[15][16]
Personal life
editOpoku has a very similar personality and lifestyle like Neymar Jr of PSG. People often call her, Neymar Jr, because of a style of play.she’s a lovely person in and off the pitch[17]
Honours
editAmpem Darkoa
- Ghana Women's Premier League: 2015–16,[18] 2017,[19] 2021–22
- Ghana Women's Super Cup: 2017[20]
Individual
- Ghana Women's FA Cup Player of the Season: 2021[8]
References
edit- ^ "Black Queens in Lagos for Aisha Buhari Tournament". Graphic Online. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
- ^ a b Association, Ghana Football. "Black Queens coach calls 38 players for camping". Ghana Fa. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
- ^ "Injured Black Princesses players undergo surgeries — Ghana Sports Online". 16 January 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ Asare, Nana (25 June 2021). "All to play for as Hasaacas Ladies clash with Ampem Darkoa in Women's Premier League finals". Football Made In Ghana. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "Match Report: Hasaacas Ladies beat Ampem Darkoa to lift Premier League title". Ghana Football Association. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "Ampem Darkoa, Hasaacas Ladies advance to Women's FA Cup final". Ghanafa. Ghana Football Association. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- ^ Quansah, Edna A. (21 June 2021). "Women's FA Cup: Thunder Queens fall, Ampem Darkoa Ladies cruise to the final stage". Ghana News Agency. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Women's Premier... - Women's Premier League-Southern Zone". Women's Premier League-Southern Zone Official Facebook. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ Mortey, Isaac (26 August 2021). "My target was to win a double for Ampem Darkoa Ladies – Sonia Opoku". Adoa TV. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Sonia Opoku". Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu (in Turkish). Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- ^ "Ghana name squad for Women's U17 World Cup | Goal.com". Goal. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- ^ "Black Maidens coach invites 42 players to start camping for 2018 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup qualifiers". GhanaSoccer. 31 October 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- ^ "Black Maidens Coach name 18 for FIFA U17 Women's World Cup qualifier against Djibouti — Ghana Sports Online". 30 January 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- ^ "Awcon Qualifier: Former Germany U19 striker Beckmann gets Ghana call-up for Nigeria showdown | Goal.com". Goal. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
- ^ Twaiah(KTEE), Martin (17 September 2021). "Aisha Buhari Cup: Portia Boakye, Opoku Sonia Start as Mercy Tagoe names strong Starting XI to face South Africa". Ghana Sports Page. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
- ^ Association, Ghana Football. "Aisha Buhari Cup: This is how we line up against South Africa". Ghana Fa. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
- ^ "Groupe Nduom, GN Bank blast 'unserious' GFA efforts at curbing hooliganism". My Joy Online. 30 May 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ^ "Ampem Darkoa beat Hasaacas Ladies to win league". Pulse Ghana. 4 September 2016.
- ^ "Ampem Darkoa beat Lady Strikers 1-0 to retain National Women's League title". GhanaSoccernet. 8 October 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- ^ "Ampem Darkoa Ladies win Super Cup after beating Police Ladies 2-0". GhanaWeb. 23 April 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2021.