Sanna Nyassi
Encyclopedia
Sanna Nyassi is a Gambian
footballer who currently plays for Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer
.
of the GFA League First Division. The midfielder remained with the club through the 2007 season, helping the club capture the 2007 Gambian FA Cup, and scoring the game-winning goal in the final.
Nyassi's play with the Gambian Under-20 National Team sparked interest among many Major League Soccer
clubs. In late 2007 Nyassi was on trial with New England Revolution
, the club that signed his twin brother Sainey
. Following a trial spell with newly-formed Seattle Sounders FC
, Sanna became the third player signed by the club. He was subsequently loaned to Seattle Sounders
for the remainder of the 2008 season, prior to Seattle Sounders FC
's MLS debut in 2009. On October 5, 2010 Nyassi scored two goals in the final of the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final to help Seattle to a 2-1 victory over Columbus Crew
and capture its second straight Cup title. He became the first player in modern history to score multiple goals in the Cup final and was named Player of The Round as a result.
On November 24, 2010, he was selected by Vancouver Whitecaps FC as their first pick in the
2010 MLS Expansion Draft, but was immediately traded to Colorado Rapids
. On July 20 in a match versus the New York Red Bulls, Nyassi scored his first MLS hat-trick and his first three goals for Colorado. His fourth goal of the season came on 29 July against the Philadelphia Union. Strike partner Omar Cummings
set up Nyassi with a lovely through ball and the Gambian scored with a curling shot to put his side 2-0 up.
Nyassi was left exposed by Colorado in the 2011 MLS Expansion Draft
and was selected by expansion side Montreal Impact.
, scoring one goal against Burkina Faso
. He also earned two caps for the U-20 national team in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup
. In 2010 he made his debut for the full national team.
The Gambia
The Republic of The Gambia, commonly referred to as The Gambia, or Gambia , is a country in West Africa. Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean in the west....
footballer who currently plays for Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
Professional
Nyassi began his professional career in 2004 with Gambia Ports AuthorityGambia Ports Authority F.C.
Gambia Ports Authority Football Club" is a Gambian football club based in Banjul and sponsored by the Gambia Ports Authority. They play in the top division in Gambian football, the Gambian Championnat National D1.-Achievements:...
of the GFA League First Division. The midfielder remained with the club through the 2007 season, helping the club capture the 2007 Gambian FA Cup, and scoring the game-winning goal in the final.
Nyassi's play with the Gambian Under-20 National Team sparked interest among many Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
clubs. In late 2007 Nyassi was on trial with New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
, the club that signed his twin brother Sainey
Sainey Nyassi
Sainey Nyassi is a Gambian footballer who currently plays for New England Revolution in Major League Soccer.-Professional:...
. Following a trial spell with newly-formed Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
, Sanna became the third player signed by the club. He was subsequently loaned to Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders (USL)
Seattle Sounders was an American professional soccer team founded in 1994 as a member of the American Professional Soccer League. In 1997, the team became a member of the USL First Division, the second tier of the United States soccer pyramid, until 2008, after which the majority of the team's...
for the remainder of the 2008 season, prior to Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
's MLS debut in 2009. On October 5, 2010 Nyassi scored two goals in the final of the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final to help Seattle to a 2-1 victory over Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
and capture its second straight Cup title. He became the first player in modern history to score multiple goals in the Cup final and was named Player of The Round as a result.
On November 24, 2010, he was selected by Vancouver Whitecaps FC as their first pick in the
2010 MLS Expansion Draft, but was immediately traded to Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
. On July 20 in a match versus the New York Red Bulls, Nyassi scored his first MLS hat-trick and his first three goals for Colorado. His fourth goal of the season came on 29 July against the Philadelphia Union. Strike partner Omar Cummings
Omar Cummings
Omar Cummings is a Jamaican international footballer who plays professionally for the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer, as a forward.-Youth and amateur:...
set up Nyassi with a lovely through ball and the Gambian scored with a curling shot to put his side 2-0 up.
Nyassi was left exposed by Colorado in the 2011 MLS Expansion Draft
2011 MLS Expansion Draft
The 2011 MLS Expansion Draft was held on November 23, 2011 as a special draft for the Major League Soccer expansion team Montreal Impact.-Format:* Existing teams were allowed to protect 11 players from their rosters...
and was selected by expansion side Montreal Impact.
International
Nyassi has represented his nation at various youth levels. He earned three caps playing for the Gambian U-17 national team in the 2005 African Under-17 Championship2005 African Under-17 Championship
-Group A:---------------------Group B:---------------------Semifinals:-----Third place playoff:-Final:-Goalscorers:4 goals Opoku Agyemang...
, scoring one goal against Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso national football team
The Burkina Faso national football team, nicknamed Les Etalons , is the national team of Burkina Faso and is controlled by the Fédération Burkinabé de Foot-Ball. They were known as the Upper Volta national football team until 1984, when Upper Volta became Burkina Faso...
. He also earned two caps for the U-20 national team in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup
2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup
The 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup was the sixteenth edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup , hosted by Canada from June 30 to July 22, 2007. Argentina defeated Czech Republic in the title game by the score of 2–1, thus managing a back-to-back world title, its fifth in the past seven editions, and sixth...
. In 2010 he made his debut for the full national team.
Gambia Ports Authority
- Gambian Championnat National D1Gambian Championnat National D1The GFA League First Division is the highest division of football in Gambia. The league began play in 1969.-GFA League First Division - Clubs 2011:*Armed Forces *Bakau United *Brikama United *Gambia Ports Authority...
(1): 2006 - Gambian CupGambian CupThe Gambian Cup is the top knockout tournament of the Gambian football.-since independence:*1969 : Real de Banjul 2-1 White Phantoms*1970-74 : not known*1975 : Ports Authority *1976 : Wallidan *1977 : not played...
(1): 2007
Seattle Sounders FC
- Lamar Hunt U.S. Open CupLamar Hunt U.S. Open CupThe Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
(2): 20092009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open CupThe 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 96th edition of the oldest competition in American soccer, running from June through early September.The tournament proper features teams from the top five levels of the American Soccer Pyramid...
, 20102010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open CupThe 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 97th edition of the oldest competition in American soccer, running from June through early October.The tournament proper featured teams from the top five levels of the American Soccer Pyramid...
Individual
- Named MLS Humanitarian of the Month in April 2010
- MLS Player of the Week; for Week 19, 2011