Last Updated on September 26, 2026 by Miguel Manjate
Lalas Abubakar comes from a Ghanaian family that placed considerable importance on education while he pursued his dream of becoming a professional footballer. Born on December 25, 1994, in Kumasi and raised mainly in Accra, the defender left Ghana as a young man to study and play soccer in the United States, eventually establishing a long career in Major League Soccer.
Unlike many professional footballers whose relatives remain almost completely undocumented, several members of Abubakar’s family have been identified through official university and MLS biographies. His parents are Abubakar Ahmed and Amida Ahmed, while his known siblings are Amadu Shafiwu and Abiba Shafiwu. More recently, Abubakar has also confirmed that he is married and is the father of a young daughter, although he has protected their names from the wider public.
Who Is Lalas Abubakar’s Wife?
Lalas Abubakar is married, although the name of his wife has not been reliably disclosed in established football sources.
Abubakar publicly discussed his marriage during an extensive 2025 interview about his life after joining FC Dallas. At the time of that interview, his wife was living in Ghana while he was based in Texas.
The defender explained that he was working through the immigration process so that his wife could eventually join him in the United States. His comments showed that the separation was temporary rather than a reflection of their relationship, with Abubakar hoping to establish a family home together in Texas.
As of now, no sufficiently reliable public source has confirmed his wife’s full name or whether her relocation to the United States has since been completed. For that reason, names attached to her on unverified biography pages or social-media discussions should not be treated as confirmed information.
Does Lalas Abubakar Have Children?
Yes. Lalas Abubakar has at least one daughter.
He confirmed his daughter publicly in a 2025 interview while discussing the emotional difficulties of spending long periods away from his family. At that time, she was approximately one year and two months old and was living in Ghana with her mother.
Abubakar also revealed that his daughter is a United States citizen. However, he has kept her name and exact birth date out of prominent media coverage.
His comments about fatherhood offered a particularly personal insight into a player who generally speaks much more frequently about football than his private life.
Lalas Abubakar’s Daughter
Abubakar’s daughter became one of the most important considerations in his life as he settled into his new chapter with FC Dallas.
During the 2025 season, he admitted that being separated from her was difficult. Because he had gone many months without seeing his daughter in person, he worried about missing important stages of her early childhood.
At the time, she had already begun walking, something Abubakar proudly mentioned while discussing his family.
His comments demonstrated that establishing stability for his wife and daughter had become a major priority alongside his football career. Although he had spent much of his adult life living thousands of kilometres from Ghana, becoming a father added a different dimension to that separation.
As of now, Abubakar has not publicly confirmed any additional children through reliable sources.
Who Are Lalas Abubakar’s Parents?
Lalas Abubakar is the son of Abubakar Ahmed and Amida Ahmed.
The names of both parents are confirmed by the University of Dayton’s official biography of Abubakar from his college career. Columbus Crew also published an official personal profile identifying Amida Ahmed and Abubakar Ahmed as his parents.
Although relatively little has been published about their occupations or individual backgrounds, Abubakar has spoken about the values his family gave him while he was growing up in Ghana.
Education was particularly important in the household. Abubakar has explained that his family constantly made sure he attended school and did not allow his enthusiasm for football to interfere with his education.
That focus ultimately proved important. Before moving to the United States, Abubakar attended the University of Ghana and played for its football team. He later received the opportunity to study and play at the University of Dayton in Ohio.
Lalas Abubakar’s Father: Abubakar Ahmed
Lalas Abubakar’s father is Abubakar Ahmed.
His name appears in official biographies published during Lalas’s university and early MLS career. However, Abubakar Ahmed has remained outside the media spotlight, and reliable public sources do not provide detailed information about his occupation or personal history.
Lalas has generally discussed his upbringing collectively in terms of his family rather than focusing heavily on either parent individually.
One of the clearest lessons he remembers from his childhood was the importance his family placed on education. While Lalas wanted to spend as much time as possible playing football with friends, his family insisted that school remain a priority.
That combination of academic discipline and passion for football eventually helped him qualify for the opportunity that changed his life: moving from Ghana to the United States on a university scholarship.
Lalas Abubakar’s Mother: Amida Ahmed
Lalas Abubakar’s mother is Amida Ahmed.
Like her husband, Amida was identified by both the University of Dayton and Columbus Crew in official player information.
In more recent years, however, Lalas has spoken more specifically about his relationship with his mother. During the 2025 season, he revealed that Amida had travelled to Texas to spend time with him while he was playing for FC Dallas.
Her presence changed his routine away from football. Abubakar explained that when his mother was not visiting, he tended to return home after training, rest and play video games. With his mother in town, the pair occasionally went shopping or spent time outside the house on weekends.
His comments illustrate a close relationship that has continued even though Abubakar has lived in the United States for much of his adult life.
Who Are Lalas Abubakar’s Siblings?
Official University of Dayton records identify Lalas Abubakar’s two siblings as Amadu Shafiwu and Abiba Shafiwu.
Columbus Crew’s official player biography also states that Abubakar has two younger siblings, although that profile does not individually name them.
Very little information about Amadu and Abiba has entered the public domain. Their ages, professions and personal lives have largely remained private.
More recently, Abubakar said during a 2025 interview that family members he described as his brothers had moved to Texas with him. He mentioned spending time at home with his brother before his mother arrived for a visit.
Because older official records identify two siblings while his more recent comments use broader family references, it is safest not to assume that publicly available biographies provide a complete description of every sibling relationship within the family.
Amadu Shafiwu
Amadu Shafiwu is one of the siblings named in Lalas Abubakar’s official University of Dayton biography.
Unlike Lalas, Amadu has not developed a significant public profile connected to professional football. Reliable sports publications provide little information about his career or personal life.
For that reason, details beyond his relationship to Abubakar should be considered private unless the family chooses to disclose more publicly.
Abiba Shafiwu
Abiba Shafiwu is the other sibling identified in Abubakar’s University of Dayton records.
Abiba has likewise remained outside the public spotlight. There is no substantial verified reporting concerning her occupation, education or personal life.
The limited amount of information available about both siblings reflects the fact that Lalas generally protects relatives who are not public figures.
Lalas Abubakar’s Childhood With His Family in Ghana
Abubakar was born in Kumasi but grew up primarily in Accra, where football quickly became one of the biggest parts of his childhood.
He has remembered playing the sport constantly with friends and occasionally getting into trouble with his family because of the amount of time he dedicated to football.
His childhood experience was considerably different from the organized youth-soccer system he later encountered in the United States. Abubakar has explained that young players in Ghana often had to overcome significant practical challenges themselves.
At times, that meant saving money to purchase football boots and finding ways to continue training without the extensive resources available to many academy players elsewhere.
He has also recalled that relatives were not regularly able to attend his matches when he was young. After moving to the United States, he was struck by seeing parents routinely driving children to training sessions and standing on the sidelines at youth matches.
Rather than describing his own family as unsupportive, Abubakar has emphasized the differences in circumstances and resources. His family’s strongest insistence was that he continue his education even while chasing his football ambitions.
Education Was Important to the Abubakar Family
Education played a particularly significant role in Lalas Abubakar’s upbringing.
He attended Adventist Senior High School in Ghana and eventually studied at the University of Ghana, where he also represented the university football team.
His life changed when one of his teammates received an opportunity to join the University of Dayton soccer program in the United States. That teammate recommended Abubakar to the American university.
Dayton eventually offered him a scholarship, and Abubakar moved to the United States in 2014 at the age of 19.
The move required him to adjust not only to American soccer but also to a different educational system and culture. His commitment to both areas reflected the emphasis on school that had been established by his family in Ghana.
Lalas Abubakar’s Relationship With Ghana
Despite living in the United States for more than a decade, Abubakar has retained strong connections to Ghana and regularly returned home during MLS offseasons.
His family is one of the main reasons those trips remain important to him.
Abubakar is also Muslim, and he has explained that periods such as Ramadan and Eid make him particularly homesick for Ghana. Those occasions traditionally center heavily on family and community, making the geographical separation more noticeable.
His Ghanaian identity has remained important throughout his career. He represented Ghana at under-20 level and has continued to speak about his desire to earn an opportunity with the senior Black Stars.
Lalas Abubakar’s Wife and Daughter Stayed in Ghana During His First Dallas Season
When Abubakar joined FC Dallas, his immediate family situation was complicated by immigration arrangements.
During a 2025 interview, he explained that his wife and daughter were still living in Ghana while he was establishing himself in Texas. His mother was able to visit him, and other family members were already staying with him in the United States, but his wife was still waiting for the necessary immigration arrangements.
The separation was particularly difficult because his daughter was still very young.
Abubakar spoke candidly about worrying that after so much time apart, his daughter might initially struggle to recognize him when he returned home. His comments revealed the personal sacrifices that can accompany an international professional football career even after a player has established financial and sporting stability.
There has not been a sufficiently detailed later public update confirming the family’s present living arrangements, so it would be inaccurate to assume that his wife and daughter either remain in Ghana or have since permanently moved to Texas.
From Ghana to FC Dallas
After joining the University of Dayton, Abubakar became one of the standout defenders in American college soccer. He made 61 appearances for the Flyers and was named Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2016.
Columbus Crew selected him with the fifth overall pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, beginning his professional MLS career.
After his time in Columbus, Abubakar joined the Colorado Rapids, initially on loan in 2019. Colorado later acquired him permanently, and he became a long-serving member of the club’s defense.
He was named the Rapids’ Defensive Player of the Year in both 2019 and 2020 and ultimately made more than 150 appearances for Colorado across all competitions.
FC Dallas signed Abubakar as a free agent in December 2024. His contract covered the 2025 and 2026 seasons with a club option for 2027.
As of now, Abubakar remains part of FC Dallas, wearing number 5 and providing the team with extensive MLS experience at center-back.
Lalas Abubakar’s Family FAQ
Who are Lalas Abubakar’s parents?
Lalas Abubakar’s parents are Abubakar Ahmed and Amida Ahmed. Both names are confirmed by official University of Dayton and Columbus Crew biographies.
Who is Lalas Abubakar’s father?
His father is Abubakar Ahmed. Reliable public sources provide little additional information about his occupation or personal background.
Who is Lalas Abubakar’s mother?
His mother is Amida Ahmed. Lalas revealed in 2025 that she had travelled to Texas to spend time with him while he was playing for FC Dallas.
Does Lalas Abubakar have siblings?
Yes. University of Dayton records identify two siblings, Amadu Shafiwu and Abiba Shafiwu. Columbus Crew also described Abubakar as having two younger siblings.
Who is Lalas Abubakar’s wife?
Lalas Abubakar has publicly confirmed that he is married, but his wife’s name has not been reliably disclosed through established football sources.
Does Lalas Abubakar have children?
Yes. Lalas Abubakar has at least one daughter.
What is Lalas Abubakar’s daughter’s name?
Abubakar has not publicly disclosed his daughter’s name through a sufficiently reliable source. She was approximately 14 months old when he discussed her during a 2025 interview.
Where does Lalas Abubakar’s family live?
In a 2025 interview, Abubakar said his wife and daughter were living in Ghana while he worked on arrangements for them to join him in the United States. His mother was visiting him in Texas at the time. Their current arrangements have not been reliably confirmed publicly.
Who are Amadu Shafiwu and Abiba Shafiwu?
Amadu Shafiwu and Abiba Shafiwu are the two siblings named in Lalas Abubakar’s official University of Dayton biography.
Where was Lalas Abubakar born?
Lalas Abubakar was born in Kumasi, Ghana, on December 25, 1994, and grew up primarily in Accra.
Is Lalas Abubakar Muslim?
Yes. Abubakar has publicly identified himself as Muslim and has spoken about particularly missing Ghana during Ramadan and Eid.
Which club does Lalas Abubakar play for?
As of now, Lalas Abubakar plays as a center-back for FC Dallas in Major League Soccer.
Miguel Manjate is a football journalist and editor covering the Premier League, European competitions, and transfer news, with a strong focus on match analysis and data-driven reporting.
