Kusini Yengi

Last updated

Kusini Yengi
KusiniYengi1.png
Yengi with Western Sydney Wanderers in 2022
Personal information
Full name Kusini Boja Yengi
Date of birth (1999-01-15) 15 January 1999 (age 26)
Place of birth Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Portsmouth
Number 10
Youth career
Fulham United
2014 SA NTC
2015–2017 Adelaide Comets
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2017–2018 Adelaide Comets 16 (0)
2018–2020 Adelaide United NPL 23 (3)
2019–2022 Adelaide United 27 (6)
2022–2023 Western Sydney Wanderers 18 (4)
2023– Portsmouth 34 (9)
International career‡
2022 Australia U23 4 (0)
2023– Australia 11 (6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 November 2024

Kusini Boja Yengi (born 15 January 1999) is an Australian professional Association football (soccer) player who plays as a striker for EFL Championship club Portsmouth and the Australia national team.

Contents

Early life

Kusini Boja Yengi was born on 15 January 1999 [1] [2] in Adelaide, South Australia, to Ben, a refugee advocate born in what is now South Sudan who emigrated to Australia in the early 1970s, [3] and Emma Yengi, an English-born primatologist. [4] [5]

Club career

Adelaide United

On 21 February 2020, Yengi made his debut for Adelaide United coming on as a substitute in the 67th minute in a 5–2 defeat to the Western Sydney Wanderers, the club he would join two years later. [6] [7]

On 13 March 2021, he scored a goal and registered an assist against arch-rivals Melbourne Victory, with Yengi celebrating his goal by leaping over advertising hoardings and celebrating in front of Melbourne Victory supporters. [8] [9]

Western Sydney Wanderers

On 12 November 2022, Yengi, after an assist from Milos Ninkovic, scored the only goal to beat Sydney FC and win the Sydney Derby for the Western Sydney Wanderers, from then Yengi has scored in both Sydney Derbys at Allianz Stadium obtaining and assist from Amor Layouni.

Portsmouth

On 2 July 2023, Yengi signed for EFL League One club Portsmouth for an undisclosed fee. [10] He scored the equaliser on his debut against Bristol Rovers on 5 August; the match finished 1–1. [11] Three days later, he scored a brace in a 3–1 win over Forest Green Rovers in the first round of the EFL Cup. [12]

International career

Yengi received his first call-up to the Australia national team in November 2023 for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Bangladesh and Palestine. [13] He shared his squad selection with former Adelaide United teammates Craig Goodwin and Joe Gauci. He made his international debut for the Socceroos against Bangladesh in Melbourne on 16 November 2023, coming on as a 72nd minute substitute for Brandon Borrello.

Yengi was selected in Graham Arnold's squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar, and played in a friendly match against Bahrain preceding the tournament. Yengi made his first appearance in the starting lineup for the Socceroos in their third match of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, against Uzbekistan. [14]

On 26 March 2024, Yengi scored his first international goal against Lebanon during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match.

Personal life

Yengi's younger brother, Tete Yengi, also plays as a forward for Livingston, who compete in the Scottish Championship. Tete has previously played for the Newcastle Jets in the A-League and Ipswich Town in the EFL Championship. [15] [16]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 9 November 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup [a] League cup [b] OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Adelaide United 2019–20 A-League 3000——30
2020–21 A-League16400——164
2021–22 A-League Men8210——92
Total27610——286
Western Sydney Wanderers 2022–23 A-League Men18400——184
Portsmouth 2023–24 League One 26910123 [c] 23113
2024–25 Championship 800000—80
Total3491012323913
Career total79192012328523
  1. ↑ Includes Australia Cup, FA Cup
  2. ↑ Includes EFL Cup
  3. ↑ Appearances in EFL Trophy

International

As of 19 November 2024 [17]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Australia 202310
2024106
Total116
Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Yengi goal.
List of international goals scored by Kusini Yengi
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
126 March 2024 Canberra Stadium, Canberra, AustraliaFlag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 1–05–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
26 June 2024 Bashundhara Kings Arena, Dhaka, Bangladesh Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh 2–02–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
311 June 2024 Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth, AustraliaFlag of Palestine.svg  Palestine 1–05–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
43–0
519 November 2024 Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 1–02–2 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
62–2

Honours

Portsmouth

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brett Emerton</span> Australian association football player

Brett Michael Emerton is an Australian former professional footballer who played for Sydney Olympic, Sydney FC, Feyenoord Rotterdam, Blackburn Rovers and the Australia national team. Able to play as a wide midfielder or defender, Emerton was known for his "speed, ball control and creativity."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graham Arnold</span> Australian soccer manager (born 1963)

Graham James Arnold is an Australian soccer manager and former player who most recently coached the Australia national team. Arnold was first appointed to work as a head coach of the Australian national soccer team in 2000. After head coach Frank Farina was sacked in 2005, Arnold worked with Guus Hiddink for the 2006 FIFA World Cup campaign, in which they made the second round of the finals. After Hiddink left, he became interim coach of the Socceroos. Arnold went on to qualify Australia's U23 men's national soccer team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Arnold then went on to assist Pim Verbeek for qualification of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Arnold's next move was to take the manager role at struggling A-League club the Central Coast Mariners between 2010 and 2013, where he guided the club to a Premiership and a Championship. He is a member of the Football Federation Australia Football Hall of Fame. Arnold went on to win two Premierships, one Championship and an FFA Cup with Sydney FC. In August 2018, Arnold was appointed head coach of the Socceroos - Australia's senior men's national soccer team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitchell Langerak</span> Australian footballer (born 1988)

Mitchell James Langerak is an Australian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Melbourne Victory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Oar</span> Australian soccer player

Thomas Michael Oar is a retired Australian professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mathew Leckie</span> Australian soccer player (born 1991)

Mathew Allan Leckie is an Australian soccer player who plays for A-League club Melbourne City and the Australian national team. Leckie, being a quick and agile player, is usually placed on the wing. However, he has previously been deployed as a midfielder, striker/second striker and even as a wing-back.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aaron Mooy</span> Australian association football player

Aaron Frank Mooy is an Australian former professional soccer player who played as a midfielder. He is considered to be one of the great Australian midfielders and one of Huddersfield Town's greatest players in recent decades. Mooy was voted PFA Footballer of the Year a record three times, consecutively, and was nominated for the 2017 Asian Footballer of the Year award. He was named in the A-League Men Team of the Season twice, and was named in the PFA Team of the Year and EFL Team of the Season once. He was voted and named in Australia's Team of the Century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellis Harrison</span> Welsh footballer

Ellis Wade Harrison is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a centre-forward for EFL League Two club Milton Keynes Dons. He represented Wales at under-21 level, scoring three goals in fourteen games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Massimo Luongo</span> Australian football player (born 1992)

Massimo Corey Luongo is an Australian professional football player who plays as a defensive midfielder for Premier League club Ipswich Town and the Australian national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig Goodwin</span> Australian soccer player

Craig Alexander Goodwin is an Australian professional soccer player as a left winger for Saudi Pro League club Al-Wehda and the Australian national team. Known for his agility, crossing and shot placement, he is Adelaide United's all-time leading goalscorer and considered one of the club's greatest players.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie Maclaren</span> Australian soccer player

Jamie Maclaren is a Scottish-Australian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Indian Super League club Mohun Bagan SG and the Australia national team. He previously played for Melbourne City, SV Darmstadt, Perth Glory, Brisbane Roar and Hibernian. Maclaren initially represented Scotland at youth level, but has since appeared for Australia at both youth and senior international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conor Chaplin</span> English footballer

Conor Mark Chaplin is an English professional footballer who plays for Premier League club Ipswich Town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riley McGree</span> Australian footballer

Riley Patrick McGree is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as an attacking midfielder for EFL Championship club Middlesbrough and the Australian national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Arzani</span> Australian soccer player

Daniel Arzani is a professional soccer player who plays as a winger for A-League Men club Melbourne Victory. Born in Iran, he represents the Australia national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gavin Whyte</span> Northern Irish association football player

Gavin Whyte is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays for League of Ireland Premier Division club Derry City and the Northern Ireland national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lachlan Brook</span> Australian soccer player (born 2001)

Lachlan Ricky Brook is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Folami</span> Australian professional soccer player

Gbenga Tai "Ben" Folami is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Adelaide United and the Australia national team.

Marco Tilio is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a winger for A-League club Melbourne City, on loan from Scottish Premiership club Celtic, and the Australia national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tete Yengi</span> Australian soccer player

Tete Yengi is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a striker for Scottish Championship club Livingston. Yengi has previously played for Newcastle Jets, Ipswich Town, VPS, Northampton Town and KuPS.

Nestory "Nestor" Irankunda is a professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Swiss Super League club Grasshopper, on loan from Regionalliga Bayern club Bayern Munich II. He also plays for the Australia national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Australia national soccer team season</span>

This page summarises the Australia men's national soccer team fixtures and results in 2023.

References

  1. ↑ "Kusini Yengi". Socceroos. 22 November 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  2. ↑ "Kusini Yengi (Forward, Western Sydney)". Ultimate A-League. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  3. ↑ Smithies, Tom (12 January 2022). "From Africa to Adelaide, the Yengi family's story keeps growing". keepup.com.au. Archived from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  4. ↑ "Orangutan escapee triggers more chaos". 9 News. 11 May 2009. Archived from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  5. ↑ Larkin, Steve (16 March 2021). "Racial abuse must stop: Adelaide's Yengi". Newcastle Herald. Australian Associated Press. Archived from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022. Yengi, born in Adelaide to an English mother and South Sudanese father...
  6. ↑ Warren, Adrian (22 February 2020). "Verbeek hopes Adelaide can keep Halloran". The Courier. Archived from the original on 22 February 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  7. ↑ "A-League: news, Western Sydney Wanderers v Adelaide United, Mohamed Toure, score, video, highlights". Fox Sports. 21 February 2020. Archived from the original on 22 February 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  8. ↑ D'Urbano, Nick. "More pain for Melbourne Victory as Kusini Yengi sparks Adelaide United fightback". Herald Sun. News Corp. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  9. ↑ Comito, Matthew. "Mauk, Yengi star as Reds seal comeback win over Victory in tense Original Rivalry clash". A-League. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  10. ↑ "Yengi Joins Blues". portsmouthfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 July 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  11. ↑ "Pompey 1 Bristol Rovers 1". Portsmouth FC. 5 August 2023. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  12. ↑ "Forest Green Rovers 1-3 Portsmouth". BBC. 8 August 2023. Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  13. ↑ "Yengi details that Graham Arnold call and 'whirlwind' journey to Socceroos". socceroos.com.au. 14 November 2023. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  14. ↑ Wiseman, Lewis (24 January 2024). "First Socceroos start a 'very proud moment' for Kusini Yengi". Socceroos.
  15. ↑ Paquette, Catherine (28 September 2021). "NEWCASTLE JETS A-LEAGUE ATTACKER BECOMES SECOND AUSSIE AT IPSWICH TOWN". FTBL. Archived from the original on 28 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  16. ↑ Apicella, Liam (6 April 2022). "Ipswich Town striker Tete Yengi signs on loan for Finnish club Vaasan Palloseura". Suffolk News. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  17. ↑ "Kusini Yengi – Stats and titles". Footballdatabase.eu. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  18. ↑ "Portsmouth 3–2 Barnsley: Pompey seal promotion to Championship with dramatic win". Sky Sports. 16 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.