Ibrahim Sulemana (footballer, born 2003)

Ibrahim Sulemana Kakari (born 22 May 2003) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Serie A club Atalanta and the Ghana national team.

Early life

Hailing from Bono in southwestern Ghana, Ibrahim Sulemana started football in his home town of Sunyani. It is also in this city that he was spotted by the Ghanaian player agent, Oliver Artur, who came to organize a day of detection in the region. Selected among several other players, he was invited to a test stay in Italy in the summer of 2019. Enough to catch the eye of Atalanta recruiters, who included him in their U17 group. Sulemana stayed there for two years, the time to participate in several national tournaments, before injuring his face following a bad blow received in a match. Not retained by Atalanta, he finally signed with Hellas Verona in the summer of 2021. The club covered his medical expenses, including his facial surgery, and also allowed him to start with the Primavera. He signed his first professional contract at Hellas on 1 July 2022.

Club career

Sulemana started his career with Serie A side Verona. On 9 October 2022, he debuted for Verona during a 2–1 loss to Salernitana.

On 1 July 2023, Sulemana signed a four-year contract with Cagliari, and transferred north to Serie A club Atalanta BC on 17 July 2024.

International career

Sulemana made his debut for the Ghana national team on 6 June 2024 in a World Cup qualifier against Mali at the Stade du 26 Mars. He substituted Salis Abdul Samed in the 88th minute, as Ghana scored in added time for a 2–1 victory.