Suleiman Abdullahi.
Photo: MICHAEL ERICHSEN / BILDBYRÅN
In the summer of 2022, IFK Göteborg signed the powerful striker from the German Union Berlin. The Nigerian had a shaky period behind him, but Blåvitt saw the potential and thought it would be possible to get him sorted.
A long contract over 2025 was signed, but so far things have not gone as planned and he has not yet started a single match in the Allsvenskan. Suleiman Abdullahi has had huge injury problems, playing only sporadically and not scoring a competitive goal.
In 2022 there were five appearances, in 2023 twelve and the very first appearance of the year came against AIK on Thursday evening when he replaced Kolbeinn Thordarsson in the 83rd minute with the score 0-1.
In some way, “Sulle” has become some kind of cult figure and the audience at Gamla Ullevi cheered loudly when he made his entrance. Shortly thereafter, he stayed in front of a post, won his duel and the ball went to Sebastian Ohlsson, who scored 1-1.
– He screened well. Then I probably also did a bit with the reception and the ending, says Ohlsson with a wry smile and continues:
– But he is strong there, nice to see him on the field. If he just stays fit and drives, he has top qualities that are brutal.
“Will be a fight to the end”
Does he show it in training too?
– It comes from time to time. But he has to be consistent and be able to do that and get his match fitness up, but there’s certainly something there. He came in and contributed today, says Sebastian Ohlsson.
Success jump – but only temporarily. In stoppage time, AIK’s centre-back Benjamin Tiedemann headed in the winning goal and ensured that his team put pressure on Hammarby and Djurgården in the hunt for second place behind Malmö FF.
At the same time, IFK Gothenburg is still very much involved in the battle for the bottom.
– Heavy, it feels strange to be standing here without a point considering how the match looked. We have ourselves to blame. It will probably be a fight to the end, says Sebastian Ohlsson.
Suleiman Abdullahi has not been too keen on doing interviews during his time at IFK Gothenburg. Inquiries in connection with training have often been answered with “maybe next week”.
After the meeting with AIK, he was booked by several media in the mixed zone. The attacker appeared as soon as possible, announcing that he was only going out to visit his family and then come back.
He didn’t.
