On 13th May, 2010, Raheem Moyinoluwa Salaudeen was born to Mr. and Mrs. Waheed Buruj Salaudeen. His arrival was marked with pomp and pageantry, and from that moment, a star was born.
Now at 15, Raheem is rapidly growing into a young man with an already impressive track record in Nigerian football.
He has completed three seasons in Nigeria’s third-tier football league, the Nationwide League One (NLO), a testament to his extraordinary talent and maturity on the pitch.
At just 13 years old, Raheem made history as the youngest player ever to feature in the NLO, etching his name into the annals of Nigerian football history. It is a record that may stand for a long time.
His talent was first recognized by his father, Dr. Waheed Salaudeen, a football administrator and founder of Buruj Football Academy and Football Club.
Determined to nurture his son’s potential, he bought Raheem his first pair of football boots at age two and enrolled him in the academy at just three years old. That early start laid the foundation for what is shaping up to be an extraordinary career.
Raheem’s performances in the NLO have revealed an exceptional football intellect and deep understanding of the game.
As an attacking midfielder, he is known for his vision, precise passing, and creativity in the midfield, often dictating the rhythm of play for his team. He wears the number 10 jersey with pride, drawing inspiration from his football idol, Lionel Messi.
A fan of both FC Barcelona and Manchester City, Raheem is an admirer of Pep Guardiola’s football philosophy and dreams of one day playing under the legendary coach. His aspirations are as bold as they are inspiring.
Currently a Senior Secondary School 3 student preparing for his final exams, Raheem is also making strides internationally. He was invited to the Nigeria U15 national team camp as one of 120 promising players selected under the NFF/FIFA Talent Development Programme.
Raheem successfully progressed through the rigorous selection stages and earned his place among the final 26 selected for the Future Eagles team, which travelled to Morocco for a two-legged fixture.