Houston Dynamo 2024 player report cards: Ibrahim Aliyu
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
We’re kicking off our 2024 report card series, recapping each Dynamo and Dash player’s season. We get things started with Ibrahim Aliyu. The Nigerian winger has been a lightning rod for fans but his numbers spoke for themselves.
2024 Grade: B
2024 by the numbers (MLS play)
Appearances: 34
Minutes played: 2650
Goals: 6
Assists: 4
G+ per 96: -0.10
2024 in review
(via FBref.com and FBcharts.com)
Aliyu came into the 2024 season as Houston’s starting left winger. His starting job was briefly threated in the summer by the arrival of Lawrence Ennali but the German’s knee injury ultimately ended that possibility.
The Nigerian was one of only two Dynamo players to play in all 34 matches during the regular season (along with Artur). Aliyu made 33 starts in those 34 matches and led the team in goals with 6 and was third with 4 assists. His 10 goal contributions were the most for Houston in 2024.
Based on goals and assists, Aliyu had a good season, especially on this possession heavy Dynamo team that doesn’t score a lot of goals. More than his goal contributions, Aliyu was second in all Major League Soccer in Progressive Passes Received with 326, trailing only Gabriel Pec of the LA Galaxy. This stat measures the number of passes received that move forward at least ten yards or into the opponent’s penalty area. Aliyu is able to stretch the field for Houston on the left, with Griffin Dorsey on the right, allowing the playmakers in the middle of the field (Hector Herrera, Coco Carrasquilla, Amine Bassi, Sebastian Kowalczyk, etc.) to thrive in the Dynamo system.
Moment of the season
Aliyu scored after just five minutes in the match on June 29 against Charlotte FC but it turned out to be the only goal of the match in a 1-0 Dynamo win. A ball into the box was brought down by Sebas Ferreira and chipped into the path of Aliyu who took a touch and then rifled a volley past likely MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Kristijan Kahlina.
Looking forward
Under contract next season, Aliyu will return as the starting left winger to begin the season. Nelson Quinones looks to be on track to return at the beginning of 2025. His dynamic attacking, which we saw before his injury, will push Aliyu early on in the new season. When Ennali returns from his knee injury, he will gradually build back up to speed and be a dangerous option of the bench, which he was showing to be before he got hurt this summer. If Aliyu keeps his starting job when Ennali is fully fit will be the big question. One thing next season that will remain constant, Aliyu will continually be questioned by the fan base, regardless of how many goals, assists, or even progressive passes received that he puts up.
