By Dayo Awoniyi
Bahraini giants Al Ahli have named 18-year-old Nigerian forward Michael Orefuwa in their 18-man matchday squad for the Nasser Bin Hamad Elite League opener against Al-Muharraq on Friday, September 12, 2025.
Orefuwa, who joined Al Ahli earlier this year after impressing in youth tournaments back home, is already being tipped as one of the most exciting African teenagers to watch in the Gulf region.
Known for his quick feet, pace, and sharp eye for goal, the youngster has impressed the coaching staff during pre-season.
His call-up comes at a crucial time for Al Ahli, who are looking to bounce back from their Super Cup defeat last week. The task ahead is daunting as they face fierce rivals and defending champions Al-Muharraq in the season curtain-raiser.
Still, Orefuwa’s inclusion signals the club’s long-term commitment to blending youthful talent with established experience.
For the Nigerian, the trip to the Sheikh Ali Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium could mark the biggest moment of his career so far.
At just 18, he now has the chance to test himself alongside seasoned professionals — and possibly take the first step in what could be a remarkable journey in Middle Eastern football.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
