Karifa Yao
 Yao with Cavalry in 2022 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | September 28, 2000 | ||
| Place of birth | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Rhode Island FC | ||
| Youth career | |||
| CS Fabrose | |||
| Étoiles de l’Est | |||
| 2017–2019 | Montreal Impact | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2022 | CF Montréal[a] | 2 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | → Cavalry FC (loan) | 49 | (1) |
| 2023 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 1 | (0) |
| 2023 | → Whitecaps FC 2 (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2024– | Rhode Island FC | 33 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 26, 2024 | |||
Karifa Yao (born September 28, 2000) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Rhode Island FC of the USL Championship.
Early life
[edit]Yao began playing youth soccer at age seven with CS Fabrose.[1] Afterwards, he joined youth club Étoiles de l’Est.[2] He was also part of the National High Performance Centre.[3] In 2017, he joined the Montreal Impact Academy, playing a year with the U17s, before playing two years with the U19s.[4]
Club career
[edit]In June 2019, Yao signed a homegrown contract with Montreal Impact.[5] He made his professional debut on September 20, 2020, appearing as a substitute against the Philadelphia Union.[6]
In February 2021, Yao went on a season-long loan to Canadian Premier League side Cavalry FC.[7][8] On November 20, Yao scored his first professional goal against Pacific FC, netting the equalizer in their 2021 CPL season play-off semi-final, which ultimately ended in a 2-1 defeat for Cavalry.[9][10] He was selected as Cavalry fans’ Player of the Year in 2021.[11] After the 2021 season, Cavalry announced that Yao would leave the club at the end of his loan spell,[12][13] and CF Montréal announced that they would exercise the option on Yao's contract for 2022.[14] In March 2022, he extended his contract with Montreal adding another option year,[15] while also returning to Cavalry on loan for a second season.[16][17] He played a pivotal role for Cavalry, leading all outfield players in minutes played for the team.[18][19] Over his time with Cavalry, he scored two goals and added two assists in 56 games, across all competitions.[20]
After the 2022 season, his option was declined by Montreal and he departed the club.[21] However, at the 2022 MLS Re-Entry Draft, Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced they had picked up Yao's contract for the 2023 season.[22][23][24] He made his debut for the Whitecaps on March 8, in a CONCACAF Champions League match against Honduran club Real España.[25]
In January 2024, he signed a professional contract with USL Championship expansion side Rhode Island FC.[26][27]
International career
[edit]In March 2015, he was called up to a camp with the Canada U15 team.[1] In April 2017, he was called up to a camp with the Canada U17 team.[1]
Personal life
[edit]Yao was born in to an Ivorian father and a Senegalese mother.[28][29]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played October 26, 2024[30]
| Club | Season | League | Playoffs | Domestic Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| CF Montréal | 2019 | Major League Soccer | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Cavalry FC (loan) | 2021 | Canadian Premier League | 25 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 28 | 1 | ||
| 2022 | 24 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 28 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 49 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 2 | ||
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 2023 | Major League Soccer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Whitecaps FC 2 (loan) | 2023 | MLS Next Pro | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Rhode Island FC | 2024 | USL Championship | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 1 |
| Career total | 91 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 102 | 3 | ||
Notes
[edit]- ^ Montreal Impact changed its name to CF Montréal in 2021
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Karifa Yao at the Canadian Soccer Association
- ^ Jacques, John (June 1, 2019). "Montreal Impact Sign Karifa Yao To Homegrown Contract". Northern Tribune.
- ^ Gauthier, Audrey (September 22, 2016). "2000$ pour Karifa Yao" [$2000 for Karifa Yao]. Métro (in French).
- ^ Lacerte-Gauthier, Félix (June 5, 2019). "Un ancien de Saint-Ex avec l'Impact" [A former Saint-Ex with the Impact]. Métro (in French).
- ^ "Centre-back and Impact Academy product Karifa Yao signs with the first team". Montreal Impact. June 4, 2019.
- ^ Vance, Paul (February 3, 2021). "Yao & Ferdinand Off on Loan Moves". Mount Royal Soccer.
- ^ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (3 February 2021). "Cavalry FC adds defender Karifa Yao on loan from MLS side CF Montreal". Canadian Premier League.
- ^ Jacques, John (February 3, 2021). "CF Montreal Loans Karifa Yao To Cavalry FC". Northern Tribune.
- ^ Jacques, John (November 20, 2021). "Pacific Powers Way To 2021 CPL Final". Northern Tribune.
- ^ Tierney, Mitchell (October 13, 2022). "'Always, play until the whistle': Karifa Yao and Cavalry FC looking to show they have learned from last year's playoffs". Canadian Premier League.
- ^ Rhodes, Benedict (December 17, 2021). "CPL50 – 16. Karifa Yao (Cavalry FC)". Canadian Premier League.
- ^ Saelhof, Todd (January 18, 2022). "Replacing major pieces Farsi, Yao, Nash tall order for Cavs". Calgary Herald.
- ^ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (November 25, 2021). "Cavalry FC announce departure of six players including Farsi, Yao". Canadian Premier League.
- ^ "CF Montréal exercises options for 12 players". CF Montreal. November 30, 2021.
- ^ "CF Montreal sign defenseman Karifa Yao to extension". Sportsnaut. March 18, 2022.
- ^ "Cavalry FC add Karifa Yao and Jean-Aniel Assi on loan from CF Montreal". Canadian Premier League. March 18, 2022. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
- ^ "Yao 'happy' he's back with Cavalry FC". Calgary Herald. March 19, 2022.
- ^ Saelhof, Todd (August 20, 2022). "'Real Karifa Yao' doing really well all over field for Cavalry". Calgary Sun.
- ^ Adams, J.J. (January 29, 2023). "On Yao, Iverson and the Vancouver Whitecaps". The Province.
- ^ Karstens-Smith, Gemma (January 13, 2023). "Canadian defender Yao among fresh faces looking to crack Whitecaps' roster". Toronto Star.
- ^ Jacques, John (November 15, 2022). "Yao A Surprise Departure In CF Montreal Roster Update". Northern Tribune.
- ^ "Whitecaps FC select former CF Montréal centre back Karifa Yao in Stage 1 of MLS Re-Entry Draft". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. November 17, 2022.
- ^ Jacques, John (November 17, 2022). "Whitecaps Recruit CPL Standout Karifa Yao". Northern Tribune.
- ^ Tierney, Mitchell (February 21, 2023). "'I improved so much': Karifa Yao on CPL experience ahead of first season with Whitecaps". Canadian Premier League.
- ^ Jacques, John (March 9, 2023). "Karifa Yao Makes 'Caps Debut In Champions League". Northern Tribune.
- ^ Murray, Nicholas (January 23, 2024). "Rhode Island signs Canadian defender Karifa Yao". USL Championship.
- ^ Jacques, John (January 23, 2024). "USL newcomer Rhode Island sign Karifa Yao". Northern Tribune.
- ^ Lévesque, Dave (June 12, 2019). "Karifa Yao: content d'être à la maison" [Karifa Yao: happy to be home]. Le Journal de Montréal (in French).
- ^ Téotonio, Jean-François (January 18, 2022). "La COVID-19 force déjà une " prise de conscience "" [COVID-19 is already forcing “awareness”]. La Presse (in French).
- ^ Karifa Yao at Soccerway
External links
[edit]- Karifa Yao at Soccerway