Chelsea Draw Barcelona 1:1 as Ghanaian Talent Hafiz Gariba Steals Spotlight
- Chelsea and Barcelona battled to a tense 1–1 draw in the UEFA Youth League, but it was Ghanaian prodigy Hafiz Gariba who emerged as the headline act
- The result leaves Barcelona’s U19 side in eighth place after five games, while Chelsea maintains its position at the top of the group standings
- Fans flooded social media to heap praise on Gariba, applauding his near-flawless display at Chelsea’s Cobham Training Ground in Surrey, England
Ghanaian prospect Hafiz Gariba delivered one of his finest outings yet as Barcelona’s Under-19 side battled to an exciting draw with Chelsea Under-19 in the UEFA Youth League on Tuesday, November 25.
The match, played at Chelsea’s Cobham Training Ground, offered the 18-year-old another chance to showcase his growing reputation in European football, and he seized it completely.
Source: Getty Images
Signed on a three-year agreement earlier this year, the defender stayed on the pitch throughout the lively contest.
For a player who hails from Teshie, a suburb in Accra, the occasion symbolised another key step in his steady rise.
Hafiz Gariba excels in Barcelona's draw
From the opening minutes, Gariba looked composed and assured. His calm passing, intelligent positioning, and willingness to carry the ball from deep made him stand out among both teams.
Operating almost as a libero, he organised the back line with confidence while also venturing forward when space opened.
His work without the ball was equally impressive. Whether clearing danger, stepping in to intercept, or timing a tackle to perfection, he consistently frustrated Chelsea’s attackers.
It was the sort of performance that showed maturity far beyond his age.
Watch Gariba's performance:
A product of Zinaps FC, a club that previously developed Black Stars defender Daniel Amartey and Clifford Aboagye, Gariba has already become a reliable figure for the Barcelona youth team.
According to Flashscore, he has featured in three of their five UEFA Youth League matches so far, with the Catalan side sitting eighth after collecting 10 points from those outings.
The game itself saw Barca open the scoring in the 62nd minute when Adrian Gilabert finished off a flowing move.
Watch Gilabert's goal:
Chelsea responded 14 minutes later through Moroccan youngster Ibrahim Rabbaj, setting up a tense finish. Both teams hunted for a decisive moment, but the game ended in a draw, per Chelsea's website.
Fans hail Gariba as he nears first-team promotion
Supporters showered him with praise online, with many highlighting his blend of technique and physical presence.
@King_Ankrah wrote:
"Clearly a DM turned CB. He's good on the ball. And he's got the height required of modern CBs. He'll just add a little muscle and he'll reach the very top."
@oneil__ hailed:
"Generational talent."
@Fortune_909 added:
"He’s really good."
@SowahKwame2 concluded:
"Teshie Star boy."
Gariba was not the only player of Ghanaian descent involved. Chelsea featured Ato Ampah, who played 72 minutes, and Genesis Antwi, who completed the match.
Source: Twitter
Unlike Gariba, Ampah and Antwi were born in England and Sweden, respectively.
With performances like this, talk of Gariba nearing a potential first-team promotion continues to grow, and Tuesday’s showing only strengthened that belief.
Gariba scores first Barcelona goal
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Hafiz Gariba scored his first goal for Barcelona Juvenil B in their 2-2 draw with L'Hospitalet on February 27, 2025.
With Barcelona behind and pushing for a late equaliser, Hafiz stepped up and delivered, heading in a dramatic last-minute goal.
Source: YEN.com.gh
