Jump to content

Tani Oluwaseyi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tani Oluwaseyi
Personal information
Full name

Tanitoluwa Oluwatimilehin

Oluwaseyi[1]
Date of birth (2000-05-15) May 15, 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth Abuja, Nigeria
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Minnesota United
Number 14
Youth career
2010–2014 Erin Mills SC
2014–2018 GPS Academy
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2021 St. John's Red Storm 49 (20)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021 Manhattan SC 2 (1)
2021 NY Pancyprian-Freedoms
2022– Minnesota United 27 (8)
2022–2023 → Minnesota United 2 (loan) 13 (3)
2023 → San Antonio FC (loan) 25 (17)
International career‡
2024– Canada 9 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 19, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of November 15, 2024

Tanitoluwa Oluwatimilehin Oluwaseyi (born May 15, 2000) is a professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Major League Soccer side Minnesota United. Born in Nigeria, he represents Canada at international level.

Early life

[edit]

Oluwaseyi was born in Abuja, Nigeria, but moved to Mississauga, Canada at age 10.[2][1] He played youth soccer with Erin Mills SC and GPS Academy [3][4]

He attended St. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School. At St. Joan of Arc, he captained the Angels to a 17–0 record and a Provincial High School Championship as a senior he scored 30 goals and tallied ten assists while serving as a team captain. He was also a three-time MVP of the boys soccer team, scoring a total of 68 times over a four-year career. While at high school, Oluwaseyi also played club soccer for the GPS Academy, where he won the Golden Boot Award at the 2017 Super Cup in Northern Ireland, at which his team won the Vase Cup. He also led his team to Ontario Academy Soccer League and Provincial Indoor Soccer League Championships.[5][6]

College career

[edit]

In 2018, Oluwaseyi committed to playing college soccer at St. John's University. In a four year college career, Oluwaseyi went on to make 49 appearances, scoring 20 goals and tallying ten assists.[5] He missed nearly all his entire senior season,[7][8] and his sophomore season was truncated by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he earned numerous college accolades, including BIG EAST All-Freshman Team selection in 2018, BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All-BIG EAST, and United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Atlantic Region in 2019, and First Team All-BIG EAST, and United Soccer Coaches All-East Region Second Team in the 2020–21 season.[5]

Club career

[edit]

In 2021, Oluwaseyi appeared for local side Manhattan SC in the USL League Two, where he scored a single goal during his two appearances.[9] He also played with New York Pancyprian-Freedoms, who compete in the fifth-tier EPSL.[10] He was also named on the roster for NPSL side FC Golden State, but didn't make an appearance.[11]

Minnesota United

[edit]

In January 2022, it was announced Oluwaseyi would be available in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft.[12] [13] On January 11, he was selected 17th overall by Minnesota United.[14][15][16] On February 25, Oluwaseyi signed a one-year deal with Minnesota.[17][18][19] During the 2022 season, he spent time with Minnesota United 2 in MLS Next Pro.[20] In November 2022 Minnesota announced they had exercised Oluwaseyi's contract option, keeping him at the club through 2023.[21]

In April 2023, he was loaned to USL Championship side San Antonio FC for the remainder of the 2023 season.[22] In his debut for San Antonio on May 7, Oluwaseyi scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over the Las Vegas Lights.[23] On May 14, he scored a hat-trick against the Charleston Battery in a 7-0 victory.[24] On July 7, Oluwaseyi got his second hat-trick against Memphis 901 in a 4-0 victory.[25] Three weeks later on July 29, he would score four goals against Hartford Athletic in a 5-2 win, reaching 13 goals on the season and breaking San Antonio's single season scoring record.[26]

On March 2, 2024, Oluwaseyi scored his first MLS goal, a stoppage-time equalizer as Minnesota United drew the Columbus Crew 1-1. After scoring 8 goals and 6 assists in the 2024 season, Oluwaseyi would be signed to a contract extension through the 2027 season, with a club option for 2028.[27]

International career

[edit]

Born in Nigeria but having spent his teenage years in Canada, Oluwaseyi was eligible to represent both the Nigerian national team and the Canadian national team.

In June 2024, he was announced as a late addition to the Canada squad ahead of two friendlies against the Netherlands and France.[28] He made his debut against the latter on June 9 at the Matmut Atlantique. He substituted Ismaël Koné in the 84th minute as the game ended in a goalless draw.[29] On June 15, 2024, Oluwaseyi was named to Canada's squad for the 2024 Copa América.[30] He became cap-tied to Canada in a 1-0 win against Peru on June 25, 2024, substituting for Cyle Larin in the 82nd minute.[31]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of match played November 24, 2024[32]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Playoffs National cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Manhattan SC 2021[33] USL League Two 2 1 — — — — 2 1
Minnesota United 2023 MLS 2 0 — 1 0 — 0 0 3 0
2024 25 8 3 0 0 0 — 2 0 30 8
Total 27 8 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 33 8
Minnesota United 2 (loan) 2022 MLS Next Pro 10 2 — — — — 10 2
2023 3 1 — — — — 3 1
Total 13 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 3
San Antonio (loan) 2023 USL Championship 25 17 2 1 0 0 — — 27 18
Career total 67 29 5 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 75 30

International

[edit]
As of match played November 15, 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Canada 2024 9 0
Total 9 0

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Tani Oluwaseyi at the Canadian Soccer Association
  2. ^ "Black voices in soccer: The importance of recognizing Juneteenth and diversity in the game". MLS Next Pro.
  3. ^ "Who is Canada's newest striker option? 1-on-1 with Tani Oluwaseyi - VAMOS! Presented by Degree". OneSoccer. July 8, 2024.
  4. ^ Boehm, Charles (April 26, 2024). "Tani Oluwaseyi seizes moment with Minnesota United: "I've been waiting"". Major League Soccer.
  5. ^ a b c "Tani Oluwaseyi - Men's Soccer". St. John's University Athletics.
  6. ^ Murray, Brendan. "Tani Oluwaseyi Has Found His Confidence In 2019".
  7. ^ "St. John's soccer star Tani Oluwaseyi will miss entire 2021 season". July 26, 2021.
  8. ^ "Red Storm soccer miss impact left by Tani Oluwaseyi". BVM Sports. December 2, 2021.
  9. ^ "Manhattan SC | uslleaguetwo.com". www.uslleaguetwo.com.
  10. ^ "Former NYPF Players Oluwaseyi and Simonsen Picked in 2022 MLS SUPER DRAFT". Eleftheria Pancyprian Soccer Club.
  11. ^ "National Premier Soccer League". npsl.bonzidev.com.
  12. ^ "Who Are The Canadians In The MLS SuperDraft?". January 9, 2022.
  13. ^ "red storm have a bit of everything available in tuesdays". Toronto Star. January 9, 2022.
  14. ^ "MNUFC Select Forward Tani Oluwaseyi in the 2022 MLS Superdraft | Minnesota United FC". MNUFC.
  15. ^ Kiernan, Sara. "Red Stormin' the MLS: Three Johnnies Selected In SuperDraft".
  16. ^ "Trio of Canadians taken in opening round of MLS SuperDraft | CBC Sports". CBC News. January 12, 2022. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023.
  17. ^ "MNUFC Signs MLS SuperDraft Pick Forward Tani Oluwaseyi | Minnesota United FC". MNUFC.
  18. ^ "Minnesota United FC sign forward Tani Oluwaseyi | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer.
  19. ^ Tribune, Jerry Zgoda Star. "Meet the new Minnesota United players for 2022". Star Tribune.
  20. ^ "Tanitoluwa Oluwaseyi | MLSsoccer.com". mlsnextpro.
  21. ^ "Minnesota United 2022 End of Season Roster Update". December 21, 2022.
  22. ^ "Minnesota United Loans Forward Tani Oluwaseyi to San Antonio FC". Minnesota United. April 27, 2023.
  23. ^ "Oluwaseyi's goal lifts San Antonio FC to 2-1 road victory over Las Vegas Lights FC". KSAT. May 7, 2023.
  24. ^ "Oluwaseyi tallies hat trick in San Antonio FC's breakthrough performance against Charleston Battery". KSAT. May 14, 2023.
  25. ^ "SAFC SHUTS OUT MEMPHIS 901 FC 4-0 ON THE ROAD". San Antonio FC. July 7, 2023.
  26. ^ "SAN ANTONIO FC BEATS HARTFORD ATHLETIC 5-2 BEHIND FOUR GOALS FROM TANI OLUWASEYI". San Antonio FC. July 29, 2023.
  27. ^ "Minnesota United Signs Forward Tani Oluwaseyi to Contract Extension". Minnesota United. December 3, 2024.
  28. ^ "Canada add Minnesota United's Tani Oluwaseyi for June friendlies". Major League Soccer. June 3, 2024.
  29. ^ "France v Canada game report". ESPN. June 9, 2024.
  30. ^ "CANMNT ANNOUNCE 2024 COPA AMÉRICA ROSTER". Canadian Soccer Association. June 15, 2024.
  31. ^ "Copa America Match Details - Canada vs Peru". Concacaf. May 2, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  32. ^ Tani Oluwaseyi at Soccerway
  33. ^ "Tanitoluwa Oluwaseyi 2021 USL2 Stats". USL League Two.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tani_Oluwaseyi&oldid=1264710108"