Fatau Dauda joins Sudan on $770,000 year deal

Former Ghanaian goalkeeper, Fatau Dauda, has reportedly accepted a life-changing opportunity with the Sudanese national team as their goalkeeping coach.

Dauda is currently juggling coaching roles at both the renowned Right to Dream Academy and the Ghanaian national under-20 team, where he has made remarkable progress and earned recognition from some of the industry’s top experts.

Coincidentally, Dauda was Ghana’s first-choice goalkeeper when new Sudan coach James Kwesi Appiah was the head coach of the Black Stars, and both have kept in touch as Dauda has had to re-educate himself and adapt since hanging up his gloves two seasons ago.

Having risen from Madina, one of the poorest suburbs in Accra, the capital of Ghana, the now 38-year-old cut his teeth with Okwahu United before a spell at Ashanti Gold S.C propelled him to Soweto giants Orlando Pirates at the peak of his career.

By the summer of 2014, Fatau Dauda had risen to prominence as one of the most renowned Ghanaian goalkeepers, both domestically and internationally. He had also become the second most-capped Ghanaian goalkeeper in World Cup history, a record later surpassed by Lawrence Ati-Zigi, with Richard Kingson, the former Birmingham City goalkeeper, holding the top spot for the most games played at the highest level of football.

Throughout his remarkable career, Dauda consistently demonstrated his ability to overcome challenges, whether on the World Cup or African Cup of Nations (AFCON) stage. As his playing career neared its end, he swiftly embraced the opportunity to transition into coaching. However, before doing so, he proudly represented his country in 26 international matches and amassed over 223 appearances at the club level.

According to report by GHANASoccernet, the Sudanese FA say they have studied the data and see Dauda as the right man to help Appiah and will offer a staggering $770,000-a-year in wages to the former goalkeeper.

He will instantly become the second-highest-earning Ghanaian coach in the world only behind Appiah who is reported to be on a $1.5m deal. No Ghanaian coach home or abroad even comes close to earning those figures.

Sudan is anticipated to establish their base in Saudi Arabia, where they will likely host their matches, possibly in Egypt as well, as they undertake the quest for qualification in the upcoming AFCON and the World Cup.