Background
Boakai was born to Liberian parents in Teldou, a small southwestern village in Guinea located a short distance from the border with Sierra Leone.
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Hanson Boakai
Edit ProfileCareer
He currently holds the record for the youngest player ever to appear in a NASL game at the age of 16 years and 231 days, taking the record away from his coach Colin Miller. He moved to Edmonton, Alberta, when he was seven-years old. Before joining Football Club Edmonton"s reserves, Boakai played for Xtreme Football Club before then joining Edmonton in 2011 after trying-out with the side.
Football Club Edmonton
After spending two years with the reserves, Boakai was signed professional by Football Club Edmonton of the North American Soccer League on 20 February 2013, becoming the youngest player ever signed by an NASL side.
On 16 June 2013 Boakai made his professional debut for Edmonton against the Carolina Railhawks in which he came on in the 65th minute for Sadi Jalali and at the same time becoming the youngest ever player to play an NASL game. Edmonton drew the game 1–1.
Boakai had played for the Canada U15 soccer side while with the Edmonton reserves. He then played for the Canada U17 during the 2013 CONCACAF U-17 Championship, scoring against Costa Rica U17 and Jamaica U17 sides as Canada managed to make it the semi-finals and thus qualify for the 2013 Fédération internationale de football association U-17 World Cup.
Boakai continued to represent Canada at the U20 level and was a part of the team that traveled to Northern Ireland for the 2014 Milk Cup.
After a strong showing for the youth sides, and a continued presence with Edmonton, Canada coach Benito Floro called up Boakai to the senior team for a friendly against Colombia in October 2014. He however, did not play.
