Yusuf Lawal

Yusuf Lawal (born 23 March 1998), nicknamed Obagol,^[1] is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Azerbaijan Premier League club Zira.

Yusuf Lawal

Personal information
Date of birth	(1998-03-23) 23 March 1998 (age 27)
Place of birth	Lagos, Nigeria
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Left winger
Team information
Current team	Zira
Number	24
Youth career
2011–2017	36 Lion FC
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2020	Lokeren	22	(0)
2020–2022	Neftçi Baku	69	(4)
2023–2024	Arouca	26	(0)
2024–	Zira	9	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 8 April 2025

Club career

Lawal has been a youth product of 36 Lion FC in Lagos since 2011,^[2] and gained the nickname Obagoal because of the similarity of his play to Obafemi Martins. He signed a 3+1 year contract with Lokeren in the summer of 2017.^[3] Lawal made his professional debut for Lokeren in a 3-0 Belgian First Division A win over Eupen on 14 April 2018.^[4]

On 16 July 2020, Lawal signed a 2+1 year contract with Azerbaijan Premier League side Neftçi PFK.^{[5] [6]} Yusuf Lawal scored his last goal against Sabah FK in a match played in Azerbaijan Premier League on August 20, 2022.^[7][8][9]

On 10 September 2024, Lawal returned to the Azerbaijan Premier League, signing a 2+1 year contract with Zira.^[10]

International career

Lawal was called up to a training camp for the Nigeria national under-23 football team in preparation for the 2015 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations, but did not make the final squad.^[11]