Wahab Ackwei

Last updated

Wahab Ackwei
Personal information
Date of birth (1996-10-19) 19 October 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth Accra, Ghana
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
El Paso Locomotive
Number 3
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2015–2017 Inter Allies 56 (3)
2018 New York Red Bulls II 7 (0)
2019–2020 Richmond Kickers 38 (0)
2021 Loudoun United 9 (0)
2022–2023 Rio Grande Valley FC 55 (4)
2024 Colorado Springs Switchbacks 5 (1)
2024– El Paso Locomotive 24 (2)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23:23, 24 August 2025 (UTC)

Wahab Ackwei (born 19 October 1996) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a defender for USL Championship club El Paso Locomotive.

Contents

Career

Inter Allies

Ackwei made his debut in Ghanaian professional football during the 2015 season with Inter Allies FC in the Ghanaian Division One. Ackwei scored his first goal for Inter Allies on 20 March 2017 in a 1–0 victory over Tema Youth F.C. [1] On 28 June 2017 he scored the loan goal for Inter Allies in a 1–0 victory over Bechem United. [2] On 8 October 2017 Ackwei scored his team's opening goal from the penalty spot in a 2–0 victory over Medeama S.C. [3] At the conclusion of the 2017 season in which he scored 3 goals in 23 appearances it was reported that clubs from Europe and Major League Soccer were in pursuit of the defender. [4]

Ackwei played at the club for three years before leaving at the expiration of his contract during December 2017. [5] After leaving Inter Allies, it was reported that Ackwei had an offer from Accra Hearts of Oak after a deal with Danish club Viborg FF failed to materialize. [6]

New York Red Bulls II

On 14 February 2018 it was announced that Ackwei had signed with New York Red Bulls II. [7]

Richmond Kickers

In March 2019, the Richmond Kickers signed Ackwei. [8]

Loudoun United

Ackwei signed with Loudoun United on 11 February 2021. [9]

Rio Grande Valley FC

On 11 February 2022, Ackwei moved to USL Championship side Rio Grande Valley FC. [10] On May 5, 2022, Ackwei scored his first goal for RGV during a 3–2 loss to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. [11]

Colorado Springs Switchbacks

Following Rio Grande Valley folding Ackewi moved to Colorado Springs Switchbacks ahead of their 2024 season. [12]

El Paso Locomotive

In August 2024, Ackwei was traded to El Paso Locomotive in exchange for Justin Dhillon. [13]

Career statistics

As of 16 August 2025 [14]
ClubSeasonLeagueCup [a] ContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Inter Allies 2015 Ghana Premier League 12000120
2016 Ghana Premier League21000210
2017 Ghana Premier League23300233
Total563000000563
New York Red Bulls II 2018 USL 700070
Richmond Kickers 2019 USL League One 2501100261
2020 USL League One 1300000130
Total380110000391
Loudoun United FC 2021 USL Championship 90000090
Rio Grande Valley FC Toros 2022 USL Championship 3122000151
2023 2321000242
Total634300000654
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 2024 USL Championship 51100061
Total5110000061
El Paso Locomotive FC 2024 USL Championship 90000090
2025 152201 [b] 0182
Total242200010272
Career total1861071001019411
  1. Appearance in the U.S. Open Cup
  2. Includes appearance in USL Cup

Honours

Individual

References

  1. "Inter Allies Defender Wahab Ackwei Wants To Add Goals To His Game". sportsnetghana.com. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  2. "Match report: Inter Allies 1-0 Bechem United". ghanaweb.com. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  3. "Match report: Inter Allies 2-0 Medeama". 777score.ng. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  4. "Top clubs in Europe and America chasing Inter Allies defender Wahab Ackwei". topghananews.com. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  5. "Wahab Ackwei leaves Inter Allies after 3 years". sunnews.info. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  6. "Ackwei agrees terms with Hearts". sunnews.info. 20 December 2017. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  7. "NYRB II Sign Steven Echevarria and Wahab Ackwei". newyorkredbulls.com. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  8. "American side Richmond Kickers FC sign Ghanaian youngster Wahab Ackwei". footballghana.com. 22 March 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  9. "Loudoun United Adds Quartet of Newcomers to Squad". loudoununitedfc.com. 11 February 2021. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  10. "Toros Add Wahab Ackwei to Defensive Corps". 11 February 2022.
  11. "MATCH RECAP: LATE COMEBACK FALLS SHORT FOR RGV FC IN COLORADO". rgvfc.com. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  12. hugh.johnson@gazette.com, Hugh Johnson (9 December 2023). "Colorado Springs Switchbacks coach Stephen Hogan said decisions on Romario Williams, Deshane Beckford were business, club signs three". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  13. Huichapa, Alberto. "El Paso Locomotive FC Acquire Wahab Ackwei via Transfer From Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC". EPLocomotiveFC.com. El Paso Locomotive . Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  14. Wahab Ackwei at Soccerway
  15. "USL Championship Announces 2022 All-League Teams". www.uslchampionship.com. Tampa, FL: USL. November 1, 2022. Archived from the original on November 1, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2022.