Dominique Badji with the Colorado Rapids. (Photo by Kyle Emery/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Dominique Badji is the latest West African to go from Boston University to a successful professional career.
Badji, who arrived in the U.S. via Senegal, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, was a starting striker for the Colorado Rapids from 2016 until being traded to FC Dallas in July. Badji has scored nine goals this season, two in six matches for FC Dallas, which will need an active, target striker for a likely postseason run.
BU successfully recruited in Nigeria in the 1980s, with players such as Michael Emenalo and Ben Okaroh and Francis Okaroh (current BU assistant coach) arriving.
“They didn’t have the avenue to go to Europe, the academies weren’t in Lagos and Ghana,” BU coach Neil Roberts said.
