{{short description|Ghanaian professional footballer|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Wahab Ackwei | image = | fullname = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|10|19|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Accra|Accra, Ghana]] | height = {{height|m=1.83}} | position = [[Defender (association football)|Defender]] | currentclub = [[Sporting Club Jacksonville|Sporting JAX]] | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2015–2017 | clubs1 = [[International Allies F.C.|Inter Allies]] | caps1 = 56 | goals1 = 3 | years2 = 2018 | clubs2 = [[New York Red Bulls II]] | caps2 = 7 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2019–2020 | clubs3 = [[Richmond Kickers]] | caps3 = 38 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2021 | clubs4 = [[Loudoun United FC|Loudoun United]] | caps4 = 9 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2022–2023 | clubs5 = [[Rio Grande Valley FC]] | caps5 = 55 | goals5 = 4 | years6 = 2024 | clubs6 = [[Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC|Colorado Springs Switchbacks]] | caps6 = 5 | goals6 = 1 | years7 = 2024–2025 | clubs7 = [[El Paso Locomotive FC|El Paso Locomotive]] | caps7 = 30 | goals7 = 2 | years8 = 2026– | clubs8 = [[Sporting Club Jacksonville|Sporting JAX]] | caps8 = – | goals8 = – | nationalyears1 = | nationalteam1 = | nationalcaps1 = | nationalgoals1 = | medaltemplates = | pcupdate = 22:58, 26 October 2025 (UTC) | ntupdate = }}
'''Wahab Ackwei''' (born 19 October 1996) is a Ghanaian professional [[association football|footballer]] who plays as a [[Defender (association football)|defender]] for [[USL Championship]] club [[Sporting Club Jacksonville|Sporting JAX]].
==Career== ===Inter Allies=== Ackwei made his debut in Ghanaian professional football during the 2015 season with [[Inter Allies FC]] in the [[Ghana Football Leagues|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.]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sportsnetghana.com/inter-allies-defender-wahab-ackwei-wants-to-add-goals-to-his-game/ |title=Inter Allies Defender Wahab Ackwei Wants To Add Goals To His Game |work=sportsnetghana.com |language= |accessdate=23 March 2017}}</ref> On 28 June 2017 he scored the loan goal for Inter Allies in a 1–0 victory over [[Bechem United]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Match-Report-Inter-Allies-1-0-Bechem-United-553482 |title=Match report: Inter Allies 1-0 Bechem United |work=ghanaweb.com |date=28 June 2017 |language= |accessdate=28 June 2017}}</ref> On 8 October 2017 Ackwei scored his team's opening goal from the penalty spot in a 2–0 victory over [[Medeama S.C.]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://777score.ng/football/matches/inter-allies-medeama-08-10-2017-372438 |title=Match report: Inter Allies 2-0 Medeama |work=777score.ng |language= |accessdate=8 October 2017}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://topghananews.com/top-clubs-in-europe-and-america-chasing-inter-allies-defender-wahab-ackwei/ |title=Top clubs in Europe and America chasing Inter Allies defender Wahab Ackwei |work=topghananews.com |language= |accessdate=14 November 2017}}</ref>
Ackwei played at the club for three years before leaving at the expiration of his contract during December 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sunnews.info/ghana-news/index.php/2017/12/21/wahab-ackwei-leaves-inter-allies-after-3-years/ |title=Wahab Ackwei leaves Inter Allies after 3 years |work=sunnews.info |language= |accessdate=21 December 2017}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://footballmadeinghana.com/2017/12/20/ackwei-agrees-terms-with-hearts/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223112624/http://footballmadeinghana.com/2017/12/20/ackwei-agrees-terms-with-hearts/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=23 December 2017 |title=Ackwei agrees terms with Hearts |work=sunnews.info |date=20 December 2017 |language= |accessdate=21 December 2017}}</ref>
===New York Red Bulls II=== On 14 February 2018 it was announced that Ackwei had signed with [[New York Red Bulls II]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/post/2018/02/14/nyrb-ii-sign-steven-echevarria-and-wahab-ackwei |title=NYRB II Sign Steven Echevarria and Wahab Ackwei |work=newyorkredbulls.com |language= |accessdate=14 February 2018}}</ref>
=== Richmond Kickers === In March 2019, the [[Richmond Kickers]] signed Ackwei.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=22 March 2019|title=American side Richmond Kickers FC sign Ghanaian youngster Wahab Ackwei|url=https://footballghana.com/american-side-richmond-kickers-fc-sign-ghanaian-youngster-wahab-ackwei|access-date=11 February 2021|website=footballghana.com}}</ref>
=== Loudoun United === Ackwei signed with [[Loudoun United FC|Loudoun United]] on 11 February 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=11 February 2021|title=Loudoun United Adds Quartet of Newcomers to Squad|url=https://www.loudoununitedfc.com/news_article/show/1145823|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420221502/https://www.loudoununitedfc.com/news_article/show/1145823|archive-date=20 April 2021|access-date=11 February 2021|website=loudoununitedfc.com|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Rio Grande Valley FC=== On 11 February 2022, Ackwei moved to USL Championship side [[Rio Grande Valley FC]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1208904|title=Toros Add Wahab Ackwei to Defensive Corps|date=11 February 2022}}</ref> On May 5, 2022, Ackwei scored his first goal for RGV during a 3–2 loss to [[Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rgvfc.com/news/2022/05/06/match-recap-late-comeback-falls-short-for-rgv-fc-in-colorado%ef%bf%bc/|title=MATCH RECAP: LATE COMEBACK FALLS SHORT FOR RGV FC IN COLORADO|website=rgvfc.com|date=6 May 2022|access-date=13 May 2022}}</ref>
===Colorado Springs Switchbacks=== Following Rio Grande Valley folding Ackewi moved to [[Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC|Colorado Springs Switchbacks]] ahead of their 2024 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=hugh.johnson@gazette.com |first=Hugh Johnson |date=2023-12-09 |title=Colorado Springs Switchbacks coach Stephen Hogan said decisions on Romario Williams, Deshane Beckford were business, club signs three |url=https://gazette.com/sports/colorado-springs-switchbacks-coach-stephen-hogan-said-decisions-on-romario-williams-deshane-beckford-were-business/article_8604311e-96e5-11ee-bfd9-9b09deb3f966.html |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=Colorado Springs Gazette |language=en}}</ref>
===El Paso Locomotive=== In August 2024, Ackwei was traded to [[El Paso Locomotive FC|El Paso Locomotive]] in exchange for [[Justin Dhillon]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Huichapa |first1=Alberto |title=El Paso Locomotive FC Acquire Wahab Ackwei via Transfer From Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC |url=https://www.eplocomotivefc.com/news/2024/08/08/el-paso-locomotive-fc-acquire-wahab-ackwei-via-transfer-from-colorado-springs-switchbacks-fc/ |website=EPLocomotiveFC.com |publisher=[[El Paso Locomotive FC|El Paso Locomotive]] |access-date=18 August 2024}}</ref>
===Sporting JAX=== On 27 January 2026, USL Championship expansion club [[Sporting Club Jacksonville]], better known as Sporting JAX, announced the addition of Ackwei to their inaugural roster.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Sporting JAX Staff |title=Sporting JAX USL Championship Men's Team Makes Three New Roster Additions |url=https://www.sportingjax.com/news/2026/01/27/sporting-jax-usl-championship-mens-team-makes-three-new-roster-additions/ |website=SportingJAX.com |publisher=Sporting Club Jacksonville |access-date=27 January 2026 |date=27 January 2026}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|25 October 2025|<ref>{{Soccerway|wahab-ackwei/436207}}</ref>}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- !rowspan=2|Club !rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|Cup<ref group=lower-alpha>Appearance in the [[U.S. Open Cup]]</ref> !colspan=2|Continental !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan=4|[[International Allies F.C.|Inter Allies]] |[[2015 Ghanaian Premier League|2015]] |[[Ghana Premier League]] |12||0||0||0||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||12||0 |- |[[2016 Ghanaian Premier League|2016]] |Ghana Premier League |21||0||0||0||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||21||0 |- |[[2017 Ghanaian Premier League|2017]] |Ghana Premier League |23||3||0||0||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||23||3 |- !colspan=2|Total !56!!3!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!56!!3 |- |[[New York Red Bulls II]] |[[2018 New York Red Bulls II season|2018]] |[[United Soccer League (2010)|USL]] |7||0||colspan=2|–||colspan=2|–||0||0||7||0 |- |rowspan=3|[[Richmond Kickers]] |[[2019 Richmond Kickers season|2019]] |[[USL League One]] |25||0||1||1||colspan=2|–||0||0||26||1 |- |[[2020 Richmond Kickers season|2020]] |[[USL League One]] |13||0||0||0||colspan=2|–||0||0||13||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !38!!0!!1!!1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!39!!1 |- |[[Loudoun United FC]] |[[2021 Loudoun United FC season|2021]] |[[USL Championship]] |9||0||0||0||colspan=2|–||0||0||9||0 |- |rowspan=3|[[Rio Grande Valley FC Toros]] |[[2022 Rio Grande Valley FC season|2022]] |rowspan=2|[[USL Championship]] |31||2||2||0||colspan=2|–||0||0||15||1 |- |[[2023 Rio Grande Valley FC season|2023]] |23||2||1||0||colspan=2|–||0||0||24||2 |- !colspan=2|Total !63!!4!!3!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!65!!4 |- |rowspan=2|[[Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC]] |[[2024 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC season|2024]] |[[USL Championship]] |5||1||1||0||colspan=2|–||0||0||6||1 |- !colspan=2|Total !5!!1!!1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!6!!1 |- |rowspan=3|[[El Paso Locomotive FC]] |[[2024 El Paso Locomotive FC season|2024]] |rowspan=2|[[USL Championship]] |9||0||0||0||colspan=2|–||0||0||9||0 |- |[[2025 El Paso Locomotive FC season|2025]] |21||2||2||0||colspan=2|–||1{{efn|Includes appearance in [[USL Cup]]}}||0||24||2 |- !colspan=2|Total !30!!2!!2!!0!!0!!0!!1!!0!!33!!2 |- !colspan=3|Career total !192!!10!!7!!1!!0!!0!!1!!0!!200!!11 |} {{notelist}}
==Honours== '''Individual''' *[[USL Championship]] All League Second Team: [[2022 USL Championship season|2022]]<ref name='2022AllLeague'>{{cite web |url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1245790 |title=USL Championship Announces 2022 All-League Teams |date=2022-11-01 |website=www.uslchampionship.com |publisher=USL |location=Tampa, FL|access-date=2022-11-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101175351/https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1245790 |archive-date=2022-11-01|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{sports links}} * {{USL League One player|wahab-ackwei}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20170715161459/http://www.interalliesfc.com/player/wahab-ackwei/ Wahab Ackwei] at [[Inter Allies FC]] * [http://www.worldfootball.com/p/26801/ghana/W.%20Ackwei Wahab Ackwei at WorldFootball.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206002520/http://www.worldfootball.com/p/26801/ghana/W.%20Ackwei |date=6 February 2018 }}
{{Sporting Club Jacksonville squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ackwei, Wahab}} [[Category:1996 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC players]] [[Category:El Paso Locomotive FC players]] [[Category:Ghanaian men's footballers]] [[Category:Men's association football defenders]] [[Category:New York Red Bulls II players]] [[Category:Footballers from Accra]] [[Category:Richmond Kickers players]] [[Category:Loudoun United FC players]] [[Category:Rio Grande Valley FC Toros players]] [[Category:USL Championship players]] [[Category:USL League One players]] [[Category:Sporting Club Jacksonville players]] [[Category:Ghanaian expatriate sportspeople in the United States]] [[Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States]] [[Category:Ghanaian expatriate men's footballers]] [[Category:21st-century Ghanaian sportsmen]] [[Category:Long stubs with short prose]]
{{Ghana-footy-defender-stub}}