{{Short description|Nigerian footballer (born 1991)}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Sanni Issa |image = |fullname = |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|08|17|df=y}} |birth_place = Kano, Nigeria |height = {{height}} |position = Forward |currentclub = |clubnumber = |youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 = |years1 = 2010–2011 |clubs1 = Lautoka |caps1 = |goals1 = |years2 = 2011–2012 |clubs2 = Rewa |caps2 = |goals2 = |years3 = 2012 |clubs3 = Suva |caps3 = |goals3 = |years4 = 2012–2013 |clubs4 = Ba FA |caps4 = |goals4 = |years5 = 2013–2014 |clubs5 = Amicale |caps5 = |goals5 = |years6 = 2014 |clubs6 = WaiBOP United |caps6 = 0 |goals6 = 0 |years7 = 2014–2015 |clubs7 = Auckland City |caps7 = 4 |goals7 = 0 |years8 = 2016 |clubs8 = WaiBOP United |caps8 = 6 |goals8 = 2 |years9 = |clubs9 = Lynn-Avon United |caps9 = |goals9 = |years10 = 2017 |clubs10 = Ba FA |caps10 = |goals10 = |years11 = 2018 |clubs11 = Manukau United |caps11 = 19 |goals11 = 19 |years12 = 2018–2019 |clubs12 = Waitakere United |caps12 = 8 |goals12 = 2 |years13 = 2019–2021 |clubs13 = Manukau United |caps13 = 44 |goals13 = 21 |years14 = 2020 |clubs14 = Coastal Spirit |caps14 = 2 |goals14 = 4 |years15 = 2021 |clubs15 = Birkenhead United |caps15 = |goals15 = |years16 = 2022 |clubs16 = Christchurch United |caps16 = 10 |goals16 = 11 |years17 = 2022–2023 |clubs17 = Rewa |caps17 = |goals17 = |club-update = 08 May 2026 }} '''Sanni Issa''' (born 17 August 1991) is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a forward.
==Career== Born in Nigeria, Issa moved to Oceania in 2010 to join Fijian club Lautoka.<ref name="OFC Center">{{cite web |last1=Amadeu |first1=Pedro |title=Sanni Issa: a successful trajectory in Oceanian football |url=https://oceaniafootballcenter.org/2020/06/18/sanni-issa-successful-trajectory-oceanian-football/ |website=Oceania Football Center |language=en |date=18 June 2020}}</ref> He also played for Rewa and Suva in Fiji, before joining Ba FA in 2012.<ref name="OFC Center"/> While at Ba, he became both the top goalscorer and best player at the 2012–13 OFC Champions League,<ref name="OFC">{{cite web |title=Auckland City book ticket to Morocco |url=http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/67f01751-7eb3-4528-9a85-f1c1cdcb27ce/language/en-US/Default.aspx |website=Oceaniafootball.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109013844/http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/67f01751-7eb3-4528-9a85-f1c1cdcb27ce/language/en-US/Default.aspx |date=20 May 2013 |archive-date=9 November 2013}}</ref> scoring nine goals as Ba reached the semi-finals.<ref name="OFCtwo">{{cite web |last1=Deo |first1=Rohit |title=Issa wins 2 OFC awards |url=https://www.fijivillage.com/sport/Issa-wins-2-OFC-awards-59kr2s/ |website=www.fijivillage.com |access-date=7 May 2026 |language=en |date=20 May 2013}}</ref>
In 2013, following the Fiji Football Association's decision to ban foreign players from league competitions, Issa moved to Vanuatu to join Amicale,<ref>{{cite web |title=Issa makes international move |url=https://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/d6debe8a-6a65-4f97-a226-5e823dce3dd8/language/en-US/Default.aspx |website=Oceania Football Confederation |access-date=8 May 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112140/https://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/d6debe8a-6a65-4f97-a226-5e823dce3dd8/language/en-US/Default.aspx |archive-date=4 March 2016 |date=8 November 2013}}</ref> where he helped them reach the 2014 OFC Champions League final, losing to Auckland City.<ref name="OFC Center"/> In August 2014, he trialed with both Mangere United and Auckland City,<ref>{{cite web |title=Trial set for Sanni Issa with Mangere FC |url=https://www.dailypost.vu/trial-set-for-sanni-issa-with-mangere-fc/article_2cc7e39b-406c-57a0-a378-14212117ebad.html |website=Vanuatu Daily Post |access-date=8 May 2026 |language=en |date=17 August 2014}}</ref> and eventually signed for WaiBOP United in September,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Ian |title=WaiBop United sign top striker Sanni Issa |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/sport/10454623/WaiBop-United-sign-top-striker-Sanni-Issa |website=www.stuff.co.nz |access-date=8 May 2026 |date=2 September 2014}}</ref> but issues over his visa requirements meant Issa didn't play a match for them.<ref name=WaiBOP2/>
In December 2014, he joined Auckland City, and was chosen as part of their 2014 FIFA Club World Cup squad in Morocco,<ref>{{cite web |title=Issa named in Morocco squad |url=https://www.oceaniafootball.com/archives-1423/ |website=Oceania Football Confederation |access-date=5 May 2026 |date=1 December 2014}}</ref> where he scored the winning goals in two penalty shootouts as Auckland City finished third.<ref name="OFC Center"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Palethorpe |first1=John |title=From part-time to the big time: Auckland City and the Club World Cup |url=https://thesefootballtimes.co/2016/12/07/from-part-time-to-the-big-time-auckland-city-and-the-club-world-cup/ |website=These Football Times |access-date=8 May 2026 |date=7 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Maybe now they'll know me in Nigeria!- Issa |url=https://www.dailypost.vu/vanuatu_sports/maybe-now-theyll-know-me-in-nigeria---issa/article_f0cae6d1-e68f-5df7-9655-62b405933831.html |website=Vanuatu Daily Post |access-date=8 May 2026 |language=en |date=24 December 2014}}</ref> Issa later signed for WaiBOP United in January 2016,<ref name=WaiBOP2>{{cite web |last1=Voerman |first1=Andrew |title=Ryan Tinsley feeling back to his best as WaiBop Utd prepare for Southern visit |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/domestic/75797483/ryan-tinsley-feeling-back-to-his-best-as-waibop-utd-prepare-for-southern-visit |website=www.stuff.co.nz |access-date=8 May 2026 |date=12 January 2016}}</ref> but decided to terminate his contract in September.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Ian |title=WaiBop coach still hopeful of quality strike-force |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/sport/10549505/WaiBop-coach-still-hopeful-of-quality-strike-force |website=www.stuff.co.nz |access-date=8 May 2026 |date=26 September 2014}}</ref>
In February 2017, Issa returned to Ba FA.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Krishant |first1=Naveel |title=Sanni Issa named in Ba OFC team |url=https://www.fijivillage.com/sport/Sanni-Issa-named-in-Ba-OFC-team--9k25sr/ |website=www.fijivillage.com |access-date=8 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref> In 2020, he was playing for Manukau United.<ref name="OFC Center"/> After two stints at Manukau United and one at Waitakere United between 2018 and 2021, he joined Birkenhead United in June 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Manickum eager for more |url=https://www.aucklandcityfc.com/manickum-eager-for-more/ |website=Auckland City FC |access-date=8 May 2026 |language=en |date=25 June 2021}}</ref>
In July 2022, Issa rejoined Rewa ahead of the 2022 OFC Champions League group stage,<ref>{{cite web |title=Rewa FC boosted by inclusion of former OCL Golden Boot |url=https://www.oceaniafootball.com/rewa-fc-boosted-by-inclusion-of-former-ocl-golden-boot/ |website=Oceania Football Confederation |access-date=8 May 2026 |date=31 July 2022}}</ref> later spending the 2023 Fiji Premier League season at the club.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chandar |first1=Reginald |title=Experienced Issa to feature at Rews |url=https://fijilive.com/experienced-issa-to-feature-for-rewa/ |website=fijilive |access-date=8 May 2026 |date=16 February 2023}}</ref>
==Personal life== Issa is a fan of former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Deo |first1=Dhanjay |title=Issa becomes the highest goal scorer in OFC |url=https://www.fijivillage.com/sport/Issa-becomes-the-highest-goal-scorer-in-OFC-s25kr9/ |website=www.fijivillage.com |access-date=8 May 2026 |language=en |date=19 April 2013}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Worldfootball.net|new_id=pe232786}} *[https://www.fijifootball.com.fj/profile/sanni-issa-1404285/ Fiji Football Association profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Issa, Sanni}} Category:1991 births Category:Living people Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Nigerian men's footballers Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Lautoka F.C. players Category:Rewa F.C. players Category:Suva F.C. players Category:Ba FA players Category:Amicale F.C. players Category:Auckland City FC players Category:WaiBOP United players Category:Waitakere United players Category:Birkenhead United AFC players Category:Christchurch United FC players Category:New Zealand Football Championship players Category:New Zealand National League players Category:Nigerian expatriate men's footballers Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Fiji Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Vanuatu Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in New Zealand Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Fiji Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Vanuatu Category:Expatriate men's association footballers in New Zealand