Riga Mustapha

Rahamat Riga Mustapha (born 10 October 1981) is a former professional footballer who last played as a striker for Pune F.C. in the Indian I-League. Born in Ghana, he represented the Netherlands at youth level.

Club career Born in Accra, Ghana, Mustapha began his career with Eredivisie side Vitesse as a youth and senior player. While with the Vitesse youth team, Mustapha actually worked under his future head coach at Sparta Rotterdam and Pune, Mike Snoei. Mustapha stayed at the club till 2008 when he signed for Bolton Wanderers of the Premier League in England as a replacement for the departing El Hadji Diouf. However, after seasons of failing to make an impact at Bolton, Mustapha was released by the club in January 2011 and eventually signed back in the Segunda División for Cartagena.

Pune On 26 October 2013, after two seasons away from competitive football action, Mustapha signed for Pune F.C. of the I-League in India as a replacement for injured striker Raúl Fabiani. He played the full 90 minutes for Pune as the side went down 2–0. His second goal then came in the very next match against Dempo on 27 November 2013 in which his 51st-minute strike lead Pune to another 1–1 draw.

In the month of December, Mustapha then managed to find the net three times. His first goal that month came on the 11th against Rangdajied United in which he found the net in the 23rd minute to give Pune a 1–0 lead which they would eventually give up and lose 3–2. He then scored his second and third goals in the very next match against United in which his brace lead Pune to a 2–1 victory and a "man of the match" award for Mustapha.

International career Despite being born in Ghana, Mustapha has in the past represented the national youth teams of the Netherlands for over 90 times, making him one of few to have reached that mark.

Career statistics