Legendary Scottish manager likens midfielder to Victor Wanyama
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 18.09.25. | 07:36
The Ghanaian international is under pressure from the fans to perform to the levels of the former Southampton midfielder
Scottish tactician Neil Lennon has praised Dunfermline's new signing, Nuruden Abdulahi, comparing him to former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama.
Wanyama has had a long working relationship with Lennon, tracing back to their days together at Scottish side Celtic FC.
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The two reunited in March when the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder signed a short-term deal with Dunfermline, as Lennon bolstered his squad in a bid to fight relegation.
When his contract expired at the end of July, Wanyama left the Scottish club, forcing Lennon to seek a replacement for the new season.
The 54-year-old secured the services of Ghanaian international Abdullahi, who is under pressure from fans to perform at the level of former Southampton and Harambee Stars midfielder Victor Wanyama. Lennon took time to compare the two.
"Technically, he (Abdullahi) is a good passer. I wouldn’t say he is exactly like Victor Wanyama or Efe Ambrose, but he has similar traits—he is very composed on the ball and covers the ground well.
That’s only from what I’ve seen of him over the last couple of days. He will add value to what we have,” said Lennon,"
Lennon was pressed to explain why the Ghanaian signing was absent from Dunfermline’s impressive 5-0 victory over Arbroath in a Scottish Championship match on Saturday, September 13.
“It was on the cards for us for a while,” Lennon said of the eye-catching signing.
“But he is going to take a bit of bedding in. We have taken our time with the other signings, and he will probably be of a similar ilk. He is very strong and a good defender.”
He can also play as a number six as well at a push, but we are okay in that position at the minute,” said Lennon.
Dunfermline are currently fifth in the table with eight points from five rounds of matches, ahead of their next league fixture away to St. Johnstone on Friday, September 19.
