Karifa Yao
Soccer player jogging during warm-up
Yao with Cavalry in 2022
Personal information
Date of birth (2000-09-28) September 28, 2000
Place of birth Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Number 12
Youth career
CS Fabrose
Étoiles de l’Est
2017–2019 Montreal Impact
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2022 CF Montréal[lower-alpha 1] 2 (0)
2021–2022 → Cavalry FC (loan) 49 (1)
2023– Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1 (0)
2023– → Whitecaps FC 2 (loan) 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of July 30, 2023

Karifa Yao (born September 28, 2000) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer.

Early life

Yao began playing youth soccer at age seven with CS Fabrose.[1] Afterwards, he joined youth club Étoiles de l’Est.[2] He was also part of the National High Performance Centre.[3] In 2017, he joined the Montreal Impact Academy, playing a year with the U17s, before playing two years with the U19s.[4]

Club career

In June 2019, Yao signed a homegrown contract with Montreal Impact.[5] He made his professional debut on September 20, 2020, appearing as a substitute against the Philadelphia Union.[6]

In February 2021, Yao went on a season-long loan to Canadian Premier League side Cavalry FC.[7][8] On November 20, Yao scored his first professional goal against Pacific FC, netting the equalizer in their 2021 CPL season play-off semi-final, which ultimately ended in a 2-1 defeat for Cavalry.[9][10] He was selected as Cavalry fans’ Player of the Year in 2021.[11] After the 2021 season, Cavalry announced that Yao would leave the club at the end of his loan spell,[12][13] and CF Montréal announced that they would exercise the option on Yao's contract for 2022.[14] In March 2022, he extended his contract with Montreal adding another option year,[15] while also returning to Cavalry on loan for a second season.[16][17] He played a pivotal role for Cavalry, leading all outfield players in minutes played for the team.[18] Over his time with Cavalry, he scored two goals and added two assists in 56 games, across all competitions.[19]

After the 2022 season, his option was declined by Montreal and he departed the club.[20] However, at the 2022 MLS Re-Entry Draft, Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced they had picked up Yao's contract for the 2023 season.[21][22][23] He made his debut for the Whitecaps on March 8 , in a CONCACAF Champions League match against Honduran club Real España.[24]

International career

In March 2015, he was called up to a camp with the Canada U15 team.[1] In April 2017, he was called up to a camp with the Canada U17 team.[1]

Personal life

Yao was born in to an Ivorian father and a Senegalese mother.[25][26]

Career statistics

As of match played May 20, 2023[27]
Club Season League Playoffs Domestic Cup Continental Other Total
Division AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
CF Montréal 2019 MLS 00––––00
2020 2000–00–20
Total 200000000020
Cavalry FC (loan) 2021 CPL 2501120––281
2022 2412020––281
Total 49131400000562
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2023 MLS 100000201040
Whitecaps FC 2 (loan) 2023 MLS Next Pro 600000000060
Career total 58131402010682

Notes

  1. ↑ Montreal Impact changed its name to CF Montréal in 2021

References

  1. 1 2 3 Karifa Yao at the Canadian Soccer Association
  2. ↑ Jacques, John (June 1, 2019). "Montreal Impact Sign Karifa Yao To Homegrown Contract". Northern Tribune.
  3. ↑ Gauthier, Audrey (September 22, 2016). "2000$ pour Karifa Yao" [$2000 for Karifa Yao]. Métro (in French).
  4. ↑ Lacerte-Gauthier, Félix (June 5, 2019). "Un ancien de Saint-Ex avec l'Impact" [A former Saint-Ex with the Impact]. Métro (in French).
  5. ↑ "Centre-back and Impact Academy product Karifa Yao signs with the first team". Montreal Impact. June 4, 2019.
  6. ↑ Vance, Paul (February 3, 2021). "Yao & Ferdinand Off on Loan Moves". Mount Royal Soccer.
  7. ↑ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (3 February 2021). "Cavalry FC adds defender Karifa Yao on loan from MLS side CF Montreal". Canadian Premier League.
  8. ↑ Jacques, John (February 3, 2021). "CF Montreal Loans Karifa Yao To Cavalry FC". Northern Tribune.
  9. ↑ Jacques, John (November 20, 2021). "Pacific Powers Way To 2021 CPL Final". Northern Tribune.
  10. ↑ Tierney, Mitchell (October 13, 2022). "'Always, play until the whistle': Karifa Yao and Cavalry FC looking to show they have learned from last year's playoffs". Canadian Premier League.
  11. ↑ Rhodes, Benedict (December 17, 2021). "CPL50 – 16. Karifa Yao (Cavalry FC)". Canadian Premier League.
  12. ↑ Saelhof, Todd (January 18, 2022). "Replacing major pieces Farsi, Yao, Nash tall order for Cavs". Calgary Herald.
  13. ↑ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (November 25, 2021). "Cavalry FC announce departure of six players including Farsi, Yao". Canadian Premier League.
  14. ↑ "CF Montréal exercises options for 12 players". CF Montreal. November 30, 2021.
  15. ↑ "CF Montreal sign defenseman Karifa Yao to extension". Sportsnaut. March 18, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Cavalry FC add Karifa Yao and Jean-Aniel Assi on loan from CF Montreal". Canadian Premier League. March 18, 2022. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  17. ↑ "Yao 'happy' he's back with Cavalry FC". Calgary Herald. March 19, 2022.
  18. ↑ Saelhof, Todd (August 20, 2022). "'Real Karifa Yao' doing really well all over field for Cavalry". Calgary Sun.
  19. ↑ Karstens-Smith, Gemma (January 13, 2023). "Canadian defender Yao among fresh faces looking to crack Whitecaps' roster". Toronto Star.
  20. ↑ Jacques, John (November 15, 2022). "Yao A Surprise Departure In CF Montreal Roster Update". Northern Tribune.
  21. ↑ "Whitecaps FC select former CF Montréal centre back Karifa Yao in Stage 1 of MLS Re-Entry Draft". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. November 17, 2022.
  22. ↑ Jacques, John (November 17, 2022). "Whitecaps Recruit CPL Standout Karifa Yao". Northern Tribune.
  23. ↑ Tierney, Mitchell (February 21, 2023). "'I improved so much': Karifa Yao on CPL experience ahead of first season with Whitecaps". Canadian Premier League.
  24. ↑ Jacques, John (March 9, 2023). "Karifa Yao Makes 'Caps Debut In Champions League". Northern Tribune.
  25. ↑ Lévesque, Dave (June 12, 2019). "Karifa Yao: content d'être à la maison" [Karifa Yao: happy to be home]. Le Journal de Montréal (in French).
  26. ↑ Téotonio, Jean-François (January 18, 2022). "La COVID-19 force déjà une « prise de conscience »" [COVID-19 is already forcing “awareness”]. La Presse (in French).
  27. ↑ Karifa Yao at Soccerway
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