# Kusini Yengi

Kusini Boja Yengi (born 15 January 1999) is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a striker for EFL Championship club Portsmouth and the Australia national team.

## Early life

Kusini Boja Yengi was born on 15 January 1999 in Adelaide, South Australia, to Ben, a refugee advocate born in what is now South Sudan who emigrated to Australia in the early 1970s, and Emma Yengi, an English-born primatologist.

## Club career
### Adelaide United

On 21 February 2020, Yengi made his debut for Adelaide United coming on as a substitute in the 67th minute in a 5–2 defeat to the Western Sydney Wanderers, the club he would join two years later.
On 13 March 2021, he scored a goal and registered an assist against arch-rivals Melbourne Victory, with Yengi celebrating his goal by leaping over advertising hoardings and celebrating in front of Melbourne Victory supporters.

### Western Sydney Wanderers

On 12 November 2022, Yengi, after an assist from Milos Ninkovic, scored the only goal to beat Sydney FC and win the Sydney Derby for the Western Sydney Wanderers, from then Yengi has scored in both Sydney Derbys at Allianz Stadium obtaining and assist from Amor Layouni.

### Portsmouth

On 2 July 2023, Yengi signed for EFL League One club Portsmouth for an undisclosed fee. He scored the equaliser on his debut against Bristol Rovers on 5 August; the match finished 1–1. Three days later, he scored a brace in a 3–1 win over Forest Green Rovers in the first round of the EFL Cup.

## International career

Yengi received his first call-up to the Australia national team in November 2023 for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Bangladesh and Palestine. He shared his squad selection with former Adelaide United teammates Craig Goodwin and Joe Gauci. He made his international debut for the Socceroos against Bangladesh in Melbourne on 16 November 2023, coming on as a 72nd minute substitute for Brandon Borrello.
Yengi was selected in Graham Arnold's squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar, and played in a friendly match against Bahrain preceding the tournament. Yengi made his first appearance in the starting lineup for the Socceroos in their third match of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, against Uzbekistan.
On 26 March 2024, Yengi scored his first international goal against Lebanon during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match.

## Personal life

Yengi's younger brother, Tete Yengi, also plays as a forward for Livingston, who compete in the Scottish Championship. Tete has previously played for the Newcastle Jets in the A-League and Ipswich Town in the EFL Championship.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 9 November 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Adelaide United | 2019–20 | A-League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 |
| Adelaide United | 2020–21 | A-League | 16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 16 | 4 |
| Adelaide United | 2021–22 | A-League Men | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 2 |
| Adelaide United | Total | Total | 27 | 6 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 28 | 6 |
| Western Sydney Wanderers | 2022–23 | A-League Men | 18 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 18 | 4 |
| Portsmouth | 2023–24 | League One | 26 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 31 | 13 |
| Portsmouth | 2024–25 | Championship | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 |
| Portsmouth | Total | Total | 34 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 39 | 13 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 79 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 85 | 23 |
* ↑ Includes Australia Cup, FA Cup
* ↑ Includes EFL Cup
* ↑ Appearances in EFL Trophy

### International

    As of 19 November 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Australia | 2023 | 1 | 0 |
| Australia | 2024 | 10 | 6 |
| Total | Total | 11 | 6 |
    Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Yengi goal.
List of international goals scored by Kusini Yengi :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 26 March 2024 | Canberra Stadium, Canberra, Australia | Lebanon | 1–0 | 5–0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 6 June 2024 | Bashundhara Kings Arena, Dhaka, Bangladesh | Bangladesh | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3 | 11 June 2024 | Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth, Australia | Palestine | 1–0 | 5–0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 11 June 2024 | Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth, Australia | Palestine | 3–0 | 5–0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 5 | 19 November 2024 | Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain | Bahrain | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 6 | 19 November 2024 | Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain | Bahrain | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |

## Honours

Portsmouth
* EFL League One: 2023–24