1. Club Career
Abdul Fatawu Dauda's professional club career began in Ghana, before he moved to South Africa and later Nigeria, eventually returning to Ghana for the final stages of his playing days.
1.1. Early career in Ghana
Dauda began his professional football career in 2004 with Ghana Division 1 League club Okwawu United. In 2006, he signed with Ghana Premier League club Ashanti Gold S.C. in his hometown of Obuasi. During his initial tenure with Ashanti Gold, Dauda was recognized as a member of the 2007 Ghana Premier League All Star Team. On 5 July 2008, his performance led to his nomination as Goalkeeper of the Year in Ghana. He made 156 appearances for Ashanti Gold during this period, without scoring any goals.
1.2. Stint in South Africa
In 2013, Dauda moved to South Africa to play for Orlando Pirates. He served as a backup goalkeeper to Senzo Meyiwa and had limited playing opportunities, featuring in only three matches in the Premier Soccer League. The following season, he transferred to Chippa United. However, his time at Chippa United was brief, as he departed the club after only two matches due to issues with unpaid wages.
1.3. Return to Ghana and later career
On 1 October 2014, Dauda returned to his former club, Ashanti Gold S.C.. He continued to play for them until 2016, making an additional 30 appearances. In December 2016, Dauda joined Enyimba International F.C., a two-time African Champions club in Nigeria. He played 23 matches for Enyimba before moving to All Stars in Ghana from 2019 to 2020, where he played 9 matches. In 2022, he also had a stint with Asante Kotoko SC.
2. International Career
Abdul Fatawu Dauda represented the Ghana national team in several major tournaments, establishing himself as a key player for the Black Stars.
2.1. Major Tournaments
Dauda was part of the Ghana national team for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations. He later became the first-choice goalkeeper for Ghana during the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations tournament. His international career also saw him participate in the 2014 FIFA World Cup held in Brazil. On 12 May 2014, Ghana's coach, James Kwesi Appiah, included Dauda in the preliminary list of 26 players for the World Cup. Weeks later, on June 1, he was confirmed in the final 23-player squad that traveled to Brazil. He was also part of the Ghanaian squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
2.2. International Statistics
Dauda's international career with the Ghana national team spanned from 2008 to 2020.
| Ghana national team | ||
| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 2 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | 2 | 0 |
| 2013 | 13 | 0 |
| 2014 | 4 | 0 |
| 2015 | 4 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 26 | 0 |
3. Honours and Awards
Throughout his career, Abdul Fatawu Dauda received recognition for his performances:
- Ghana Premier League All Star Team: 2007
- Ghana Goalkeeper of the Year nomination: 2008
4. Personal Life
In September 2024, Dauda was involved in a car crash alongside former Ghanaian footballers and coaches Otto Addo and John Paintsil. The incident occurred when their vehicle was damaged as it swerved to avoid a head-on collision with a pick-up truck that veered into their lane. The Ghana Football Association released a statement shortly after the crash, confirming that all three individuals were in stable condition.