Michaela-Batya Bisi Abam (born 12 June 1997) is an American-born Cameroonian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Liga MX Femenil side Deportivo Toluca and the Cameroon national team.[2] She previously played for Houston Dash and Sky Blue FC in the American National Women's Soccer League, Real Betis in the Spanish Primera División, Paris FC in the Division 1 Féminine, and West Virginia University.[3][4]
 Abam with Real Betis in 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Michaela-Batya Bisi Abam[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 12 June 1997 | ||
| Place of birth | Houston, Texas, United States | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Deportivo Toluca | ||
| Number | 22 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Texas Rush | |||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2014–2017 | West Virginia Mountaineers | 95 | (42) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018 | Sky Blue FC | 4 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | Paris FC | 10 | (1) |
| 2019–2020 | Real Betis | 20 | (3) |
| 2021–2022 | Houston Dash | 19 | (1) |
| 2023 | Linköping FC | 15 | (2) |
| 2024– | Deportivo Toluca | 7 | (3) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2013 | United States U17 | ||
| 2018– | Cameroon | 6 | (3) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 May 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:30, 17 July 2022 (UTC) | |||
Early life edit
Abam was born in Houston, Texas. She attended Harmony Science Academy High School and played youth soccer with Texas Rush, which later became part of Houston Dynamo/Dash Youth Academy.[5]
College career edit
Abam played in a school-record 95 games for the Mountaineers, scoring 42 goals and 16 assists. In 2016, she scored the only goal in a 1–0 win over the University of North Carolina in the College Cup semi-final, leading WVU to their first-ever College Cup final.[6][7]
Club career edit
Sky Blue FC, 2018 edit
Abam was selected by Sky Blue FC as the 4th overall pick in the 2018 NWSL College Draft.[8] In March she was named to the final roster for the 2018 season.[9] After appearing in four games for Sky Blue, she was waived by the team on July 25.[10]
Paris FC, 2018–2019 edit
On 1 August 2018, Abam signed a one-year contract to play for Paris FC in France's Division 1 Féminine.[11] She appeared in 10 league matches and scored one goal.[12]
Real Betis, 2019–2020 edit
On 7 August 2019, Abam signed a one-year contract to play for Spanish Primera División team Real Betis.[12] She appeared in 15 league matches, scoring three goals, before competition was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On 24 September 2020, she scored a hat-trick against Hispalis in the pre-season Andalusian Women's Cup quarterfinals.[13] She appeared in five more league matches for Real Betis before leaving the club.[5]
Houston Dash, 2021–2022 edit
In August 2021, Abam signed for the Houston Dash in the NWSL, becoming the first player signed by the Dash who attended a Dash-affiliated youth club.[14] Her first appearance was on 13 August 2021 against the Washington Spirit, where she scored the equalizing goal in a 2–2 draw.[5][15]
On 20 March 2023, the Dash announced that the club had waived Abam.[16]
Linköping FC, 2023– edit
On 4 April 2023, Damallsvenskan club Linköping FC announced that it had signed Abam.[4]
International career edit
Abam made her senior debut for Cameroon on 12 November 2018 in a 7–0 friendly win against Zambia, scoring twice.[17] Then, she was called up to compete at the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations, but did not make any appearance by problems with her Cameroonian passport.[18] In May 2019, she was named for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Career statistics edit
International goals edit
Scores and results list Cameroon's goal tally first
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
12 November 2018 | Stade Municipal (Bingerville), Abidjan, Ivory Coast |  Zambia |
5–0 |
7–0 | Friendly |
2 |
7–0
|
Honours edit
West Virginia Mountaineers
Individual
- Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Year: 2016
References edit
- ^ "WVU Commencement Program" (PDF). West Virginia University Graduation. p. 31. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
- ^ "Michaela Abam rejoint le Paris FC". 1 August 2018. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
- ^ "MICHAELA ABAM". Archived from the original on 1 August 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
- ^ a b "Transfer: Michaela Abam leaves Houston Dash as she returns to Europe". Kick 442. 4 April 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- ^ a b c Roepken, Corey (13 August 2021). "Houston Dash's Michaela Abam has happy homecoming". Texas Sports Nation. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- ^ "Michaela Abam goal advances WVU to College Cup final". 2 December 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
- ^ West Virginia women's soccer headed to the Final. ESPN. 3 December 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- ^ "NWSL draft results: All the picks from all 4 rounds". 18 January 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
- ^ "Sky Blue FC announces official 2018 season roster". 19 March 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
- ^ "Wednesday Roundup: Sky Blue FC waive Thaisa and Michaela Abam". 25 July 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
- ^ "Michaela Abam rejoint le Paris FC". 1 August 2018. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
- ^ a b Ahmadu, Samuel (7 August 2019). "Michaela Abam: Real Betis sign Paris striker". Goal. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- ^ Ahmadu, Samual (24 September 2020). "Michaela Abam's hat-trick leads Real Betis to Andalusian Cup semi-final". Goal. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- ^ houstondynamofc. "Michaela Abam becomes first player from Dynamo | Dash Youth Club to sign with Houston Dash". Houston Dynamo FC. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- ^ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- ^ "Houston Dash announce updated 2023 roster" (Press release). Houston Dynamo FC. 20 March 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- ^ "Cameroon hammer Zambia 7–0 in final pre-AWCON friendly". Footy-GHANA.com. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
- ^ "Fécafoot : Michaela Abam, une négligence coupable" (in French). Camfoot.com. 23 April 2019.
External links edit
- Michaela Abam at Liga MX Femenil (archive) (in Spanish)
- Michaela Abam at Soccerway
- Michaela Abam at FBref.com
- West Virginia Mountaineers profile
- Linköping FC profile
- Sky Blue FC profile