Faniel Tewelde

Faniel Tewelde

Personal information
Full name	Faniel Temesgen Tewelde [1]
Date of birth	(2006-09-09) 9 September 2006 (age 17)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Odd
Number	11
Youth career
0000–2019	Herkules
2019–2021	Odd
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–2022	Odd 3	7	(2)
2021–	Odd 2	35	(8)
2022–	Odd	23	(5)
International career‡
2021	Norway U15	7	(2)
2022	Norway U16	12	(5)
2023–	Norway U17	6	(3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 31 March 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 7 August 2023

Faniel Temesgen Tewelde (born 9 September 2006) is a Norwegian footballer who plays as a forward for Odd.

Club career

Tewelde began his career with Herkules, before moving to Odd mid-way through the 2019 season. ^[2] made his debut for Odd's third team in the 5. divisjon, the sixth tier of Norwegian football, on 24 August 2021, featuring in a 3–1 home loss to Urædd. ^[2] In his second game, he scored two goals in a 6–1 win against Snøgg. ^[2] Following an impressive start to his career with Odd's reserve team, he signed his first professional contract with the club in December 2021 at the age of fifteen, making him the youngest player to do so in the club's history. ^{[3] [4]}

The following season, having featured mostly for Odd's second team in the third-tier 2. divisjon, Tewelde made his professional debut for the senior squad; having come on as a substitute for Syver Aas in the second half of their Eliteserien game against Lillestrøm with the score at 0–0, he needed only four minutes to provide an assist for Mikael Ingebrigtsen to open the scoring. ^[5] Five minutes later, his shot was saved by Lillestrøm goalkeeper Mads Hedenstad Christiansen, before falling to teammate Dennis Gjengaar who scored the game's second goal as Odd won 2–0. ^[5] In December 2022, despite only having signed his first professional contract the year prior, he extended his deal, keeping him with the club until 2025. ^[6]

Ahead of the 2023 season, Tewelde featured in a 2–1 friendly win against Jerv. ^[7] His first goal for the club came in a 5–2 Norwegian Football Cup win against Notodden on 1 June. ^[2] Three days later, he scored his first Eliteserien goal for the club, though it came in a 4–1 away loss to Sandefjord. ^[8] Two months later, on 6 August, he scored in a 4–0 win against Stabæk; having come off the bench late into additional time with the score at 3–0, he took advantage of Stabæk goalkeeper Isak Pettersson coming up for a corner, and having received the ball on half-way from Leonard Owusu's deflected shot, he dribbled to the penalty area before slotting into an empty net. ^[9]

International career

Tewelde has represented Norway from under-15 to under-17 level. ^[2]

Style of play

Tewelde has been described by journalist Robin Haugen as an extremely quick footballer with great dribbling ability. ^[10]

Career statistics

Club

As of 31 March 2024. ^{[2] [11]}

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Odd 3	2021	5. divisjon	6	2	–		–		0	0	6	2
	2022		1	0	–		–		0	0	1	0
	Total		7	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	2
Odd 2	2021	2. divisjon	6	0	–		–		0	0	6	0
	2022		22	3	–		–		0	0	22	3
	2023		7	5	–		–		0	0	7	5
	Total		35	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	35	8
Odd	2022	Eliteserien	2	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	–		0	0	3	0
	2023		20	5	3 [lower-alpha 1]	1	–		0	0	23	6
	2024		1	0	0 [lower-alpha 1]	0	–		0	0	1	0
	Total		23	5	4	1	0	0	0	0	27	6
Career total			65	15	4	1	0	0	0	0	69	16

Notes

1. Appearances in the Norwegian Cup

References

1. Faniel Tewelde at WorldFootball.net
2. Faniel Tewelde at the Norwegian Football Federation (in Norwegian)
3. "15 år gamle Tewelde klar for Odd" [15-year-old Tewelde ready for Odd]. odd.no (in Norwegian). 9 December 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
4. "15-åring skrev proffkontrakt med Odd" [The 15-year-old signed a professional contract with Odd]. direkte.vg.no (in Norwegian). 9 December 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
5. "16-åring herjet for Odd i debuten" [The 16-year-old played havoc for Odd in his debut]. tv2.no (in Norwegian). 30 October 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
6. "Tewelde forlenger kontrakten" [Tewelde extends the contract]. odd.no (in Norwegian). 22 December 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
7. Torvik, Per Kristian (20 March 2023). "Han er vinterens beholdning i Odd" [He is the winter stock in Odd]. svingslag.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 7 August 2023.
8. "Sandefjord med historisk seier – slo Odd for første gang hjemme: – Deilig" [Sandefjord with a historic victory - beat Odd for the first time at home: - Delicious]. dagsavisen.no (in Norwegian). 4 June 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
9. "Stabæk i fritt fall – ni strake uten seier" [Stabæk in free fall – nine straight without a victory]. vg.no (in Norwegian). 6 August 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
10. Austerheim, Daniel (1 November 2022). "Får eksperten til å steile: – Der har Norge en juvel" [Makes the expert stand up: - Norway has a jewel there]. nettavisen.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 7 August 2023.
11. Faniel Tewelde at Soccerway