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Who is Wahid Faghir? Danish football’s future No.9?

Faghir became a Danish Under-21 international at just seventeen with the likes of Ajax and Leicester closely monitoring the 6-foot 1 forward.

Scandinavian strikers have a long history of lighting up world football. From the days of Laudrup and Litmanen to the timeless Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the talent pool of forwards from Northern Europe has at times been overlooked due to so many of the World’s best goalscorers coming from Central Europe and South America.

Today, Norway have one of the Best in the world in Erling Haaland, whilst in Alexander Isak, Sweden have a forward with the potential to become world class. One young striker hoping to put his name up alongside these stars in the coming years is 18-year-old Danish centre-forward Wahid Faghir. The Vejle-born striker joined VFB Stuggart back in August 2021 as the Bundesliga side look to build a young side with current players Mohamed Sankoh and Enzo Millot promising teenagers coming through.

Starting out in the academy of his hometown club aged six, Faghir worked his way through every youth side before signing his first professional contract back in 2018 as a 15-year-old. Faghir was physically way beyond his years, with his six-foot-one frame proving too much for defenders at Under 19s level, as Faghir hit seven goals as well as provide nine assists in just eleven appearances the season following his deal.

Faghir made his first-team debut in the summer of 2020 and instantly became a vital part of Vejle’s side, hitting two goals in his first three appearances and finishing the season with five goal contributions for just ten outings as the Danish second division side earned promotion to the Superliga.

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Stuggart give out plenty of opportunities to young players and Faghir looks set to be given more minutes next season.

What type of forward is Faghir?

Truly in the mould of an old-fashined number 9, Faghir is incredibly strong, but obtains excellent technical ability and flair, often utilising one touch flicks and backheels in similar fashion to Swedish icon Ibrahimovic. His intelligent movement in and around the 18-yard box makes him very difficult to anticipate. Matched with a powerful shot and tireless workrate, Faghir has all the ingredients to become an elite forward in the Bundesliga.

Stuggart decided to sign Faghir off the back of six goals in 26 league games for Vejle in 2021, which included strikes in a 2-2 draw with Brondby and in a 3-1 defeat to Nordsjaelland. After joining for a fee of around 4.5m Euros, Faghir made six appearances in his debut campaign last term, with an injury time equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Union Berlin his only goal so far. The Dane’s appearances all came before the turn of the year and is yet to have been handed a start by the German side.

However, Faghir has continued to make strides on the international front. Now a full fixture in Denmark’s U-21 side, the youngster made his debut in a 1-0 win over Kazakhstan in September. Identical to his Stuggart record, Faghir also has one in six for his Country, scoring the opener in a 2-2 draw with Germany (Germany won 6-5 on penalties).

Despite the youngsters’ parents being from Afghanistan, Faghir has represented Denmark since under-16s level, and even hit eight goals in fourteen U-17’s matches. Danish football’s head of elite development Flemming Berg is confident that Faghir can have a bright future with the national team should he continue into the men’s side:

“Without making any guarantees, we hope and believe that Wahid has a long career ahead of him in the national team with Denmark, because he is a very talented player.”

“Without making any guarantees, we hope and believe that Wahid has a long career ahead of him in the national team with Denmark, because he is a very talented player.”

With a youth centered ethos, Faghir is sure to see more minutes at Stuggart next season, with the club securing safety on goal difference at the end of last season. The club looks set to try and increase the market values of its burgeoning prospects and history would suggest that more time on the pitch will only equal more goals for Faghir.

For highlights of Faghirs’ goals click here.

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