Abo Eisa

Sudanese professional footballer

Abo Eisa
Personal information
Full name Abobaker Mamoun Eisa[1]
Date of birth (1996-01-05) 5 January 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth Khartoum, Sudan
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Grimsby Town
Number 7
Youth career
Pro Touch Soccer Academy
St Albans City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 Uxbridge 53 (17)
2017–2018 Wealdstone 24 (12)
2018–2019 Shrewsbury Town 10 (1)
2019 → Colchester United (loan) 14 (2)
2019–2021 Scunthorpe United 67 (14)
2021–2023 Bradford City 18 (2)
2023– Grimsby Town 32 (9)
International career‡
2023– Sudan 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:03, 16 April 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:47, 19 November 2023 (UTC)

Abobaker Mamoun Eisa (born 5 January 1996) is a Sudanese professional footballer who plays as a winger for EFL League Two side Grimsby Town and the Sudan national team.

Eisa began his career playing non-league football with St Albans City, Uxbridge and Wealdstone. In 2018 he moved into professional football signing with Shrewsbury Town. He has since played for Colchester United, Scunthorpe United and Bradford City.

Early life

Eisa was born in Khartoum, Sudan, in 1996.[2] His family moved to London when he was seven years old.[3]

Club career

Early career

Eisa played youth football with Pro Touch Soccer Academy and St Albans City, before beginning his senior career in non-league football with Uxbridge and Wealdstone.[4] He turned professional on 31 January 2018 with Shrewsbury Town,[5] scoring his first goal for the club in the English Football League on 21 April in a 1−1 draw against Bury.[6]

On 8 April 2018, he appeared as an unused substitute in the 2018 EFL Trophy Final, and received a runner-up medal under the tournament's rules.[7]

In January 2019, he moved on loan to Colchester United.[8] He made a goalscoring debut for the club on 2 February, scoring five minutes after his introduction as a half-time substitute during Colchester's 4–0 win at Northampton Town.[9]

On 15 August 2019, Eisa signed for the League Two side Scunthorpe United on a two-year deal, reuniting with the former Shrewsbury manager Paul Hurst, making him the club's eighth summer signing.[10]

He was one of 17 players released by Scunthorpe at the end of the 2020–21 season.[11]

Bradford City

On 18 June 2021, it was announced that Eisa had signed a two-year deal with another League Two side, Bradford City, and would transfer after his contract expiry.[12]

In July 2021, before the start of the 2021–22 season, Eisa spoke highly about the club's pre-season preparation.[13] He suffered an injury early in the season,[14] and, after returning to the first team, underwent hamstring surgery in December 2021, ruling him out for a further four months.[15] By late April 2022, he had returned to training was in possible contention for first team action in the final games of the season.[16]

In June 2022, the Bradford City manager, Mark Hughes, said that Eisa could be considered a new signing after returning from injury, having only played in five matches in the previous season.[17] In July 2022, Eisa said he was happy to have returned to fitness.[18] He was injured again later that month, with what was described as a "significant" injury.[19] He returned to full training in September 2022,[20] and made his first appearance of the 2022–23 season as a late substitute in the EFL trophy on 19 October 2022.[21] On 12 November 2022, he made his first start since 27 November 2021.[22] He said he was looking forward to playing more frequently.[23] He scored his first Bradford City goal on 1 January 2023, scoring the winner in a 3–2 home victory against Salford.[24] Eisa was injured again in February 2023.[25]

In May 2023 it was announced that he would leave Bradford City when his contract expired on 30 June.[26]

Grimsby Town

In June 2023 it was announced that he would sign for Grimsby Town on 1 July 2023, reuniting him with Paul Hurst and his assistant Chris Doig for a third time.[27][28] He was nominated for the League Two August 2023 Player of the Month award.[29] Following that announcement, Mark Hughes, his manager at Bradford City, had said Eisa had been "unlucky" at the club.[30]

International career

In August 2021, he was called up by the Sudan national team, but could not play for them due to injury.[14] In November 2021, he said he was keen to represent Sudan, but was putting his club first.[31] He made his international debut with the Sudan national team in a 1–1 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification tie with Togo on 16 November 2023. He replaced his brother at half-time, who was also making his debut and scored the side's opening goal.[32]

Personal life

He is the brother of Mohamed Eisa.[3][33] He has said that Mohamed has been a role model to him. A younger brother Omar is also a footballer.[34]

He combined his non-league career with studying for a degree in biomedical sciences at Brunel University.[3]

Honours

Shrewsbury Town

References

  1. ^ "Intermediary Transactions 1 February 2018 to 31 January 2019" (PDF). The FA. p. 13. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  2. ^ "Profile". 11v11. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Jon Palmer (13 October 2017). "Meet the younger Eisa brother, a biomedical science student who wants to follow Mo into Football League". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  4. ^ "Profile". Aylesbury United F.C. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Nathan Thomas & Abo Eisa: Shrewsbury Town sign wingers from Sheffield United and Wealdstone". BBC Sport. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  6. ^ "Games played by Abo Eisa in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  7. ^ a b Ged Scott (8 April 2018). "Lincoln City 1–0 Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
    - "Checkatrade Trophy Regulations". English Football League. Archived from the original on 18 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  8. ^ "Abo Eisa: Colchester United sign Shrewsbury Town winger on loan". BBC Sport. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  9. ^ "Northampton Town 0–4 Colchester United". BBC Sport. 2 February 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  10. ^ "Abo Eisa: Scunthorpe sign winger from Shrewsbury on two-year deal". BBC Sport. 15 August 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
    - Paul Crute (15 August 2019). "Who is Abo Eisa? The lowdown on Scunthorpe United's latest summer signing". Grimsby Telegraph. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  11. ^ Trevor Green (13 May 2021). "Scunthorpe United release 17 players including several key men". Grimsby Telegraph.
  12. ^ "CITY BEAT OFF COMPETITION FOR EISA SIGNATURE". Bradford City A.F.C. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
    - Nathan Atkinson (18 June 2021). "Bradford City sign Eisa after he departs Scunthorpe". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
    - "Bradford City sign forward Eisa". BBC Sport.
  13. ^ Simon Parker (19 July 2021). "Bradford City winger Eisa backs tough pre-season regime". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  14. ^ a b Simon Parker (2 September 2021). "Bradford City winger Eisa facing longer spell on sidelines". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  15. ^ Simon Parker (9 December 2021). "Bradford City winger Eisa recovering from hamstring operation". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  16. ^ Simon Parker (27 April 2022). ""Angol knows Bradford City winger Eisa is "in a good place"". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
    Simon Parker (28 April 2022). "Eisa "knocking on the door" for Bradford City chance". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  17. ^ Simon Parker (30 June 2022). "Eisa back for Bradford City but three to miss Avenue game". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  18. ^ Simon Parker (5 July 2022). "Eisa delighted to be back with Bradford City after injuries". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  19. ^ Simon Parker (26 July 2022). "Bradford City trio join Eisa in missing start of season". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  20. ^ Simon Parker (15 September 2022). "Eisa back in full training with Bradford City after injury". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  21. ^ Simon Parker (20 October 2022). "Bradford City boss will take no chances on Eisa's fitness". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  22. ^ Nathan Atkinson (12 November 2022). "Bradford City boss happy with win and Abo Eisa return". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  23. ^ Simon Parker (17 November 2022). "Bradford City winger Eisa keen to make up for long injury absence". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  24. ^ Simon Parker (1 January 2023). "BANTAMS REACTION: Hughes so happy for Valley Parade match-winner Eisa". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
    Simon Parker (2 January 2023). "Bradford City winger Eisa targets more goals after Salford winner". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  25. ^ "Positive news for City striker Eisa after latest injury setback". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  26. ^ "Bradford City announce their retained list for next season". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 25 May 2023.
  27. ^ "Grimsby sign Bradford forward Eisa" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  28. ^ "Former Bradford City winger Eisa signs for new club". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 14 June 2023.
  29. ^ "Young and Eisa in the mix for League Two player of month award". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 5 September 2023.
  30. ^ "'He was exceptionally unlucky': Hughes glad to see Eisa bounce back after City". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 6 September 2023.
  31. ^ "Sudan keen to pick fit-again Bradford City winger Eisa". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 20 November 2021.
  32. ^ "Eisa scores in his international debut as Sudan draw with Togo". Yahoo Sports. 16 November 2023.
  33. ^ Nathan Atkinson (19 June 2021). "Bradford City new boy calls brother an inspiration". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  34. ^ Simon Parker (29 November 2022). "Bradford City winger Eisa thanks role model brother Mo at MK Dons". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
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