# Ashley Nazira

Ashley Nazira (born 11 November 1995) is a Mauritian professional footballer, who plays as a forward for the Mauritius national football team. He played for San Diego Loyal SC, an American professional soccer team based in San Diego, California, during the 2020 USL Championship season. Since 2021, he now plays for Saint-Pauloise FC, a football club based in Saint-Paul, Réunion, France.

## Club career

Nazira began playing football at the age of six. He played for Boulet Rouge, a Mauritian Premier League club, for his entire career up until the 2019–2020 season. During his spell within Mauritian football, Nazira was the league's top goalscorer for four times.
Following his time spent in his homeland, Nazira then signed for San Diego Loyal SC, the new USL Championship expansion team, on a 12-month deal in January 2020. By doing so, he became the first ever Mauritian professional footballer to play in a top league in North America.
He previously had a successful trial with Réunion Premier League club Saint-Pauloise FC in February 2019 after being top goal scorer in the Mauritian first division with twenty goals. However the signing was put on hold by the club for financial reasons.
Two and a half years after his failed attempt to join Saint-Pauloise FC, he finally signed for the Réunionese club in September 2021.

## International career

Nazira made his senior international debut for Mauritius on 25 March 2015 in a 2–2 friendly draw with Burundi. With three goals, he was the join top-scorer at the 2019 COSAFA Cup.

### International goals

Score and result list Mauritius's goal tally first.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 21 March 2019 | Churchill Park, Lautoka, Fiji | New Caledonia | 3–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 2 | 25 May 2019 | King Zwelithini Stadium, Umlazi, South Africa | Eswatini | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2019 COSAFA Cup |
| 3 | 25 May 2019 | King Zwelithini Stadium, Umlazi, South Africa | Eswatini | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2019 COSAFA Cup |
| 4 | 29 May 2019 | King Zwelithini Stadium, Umlazi, South Africa | Comoros | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2019 COSAFA Cup |
| 5 | 18 July 2019 | Stade George V, Curepipe, Mauritius | Seychelles | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2019 Indian Ocean Island Games |
| 6 | 22 July 2019 | Stade George V, Curepipe, Mauritius | Madagascar | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2019 Indian Ocean Island Games |
| 7 | 13 October 2019 | Estádio Nacional 12 de Julho, São Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe | São Tomé and Príncipe | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 8 | 27 March 2022 | Anjalay Stadium, Belle Vue Harel, Mauritius | São Tomé and Príncipe | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 9 | 11 June 2023 | Complexe Sportif de Côte d'Or, Saint Pierre, Mauritius | Pakistan | 2–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 10 | 14 June 2023 | Anjalay Stadium, Belle Vue Harel, Mauritius | Djibouti | 1–0 | 1–3 | Friendly |
| 11 | 2 September 2023 | Elgeco Plus Stadium, Antananarivo, Madagascar | Comoros | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games |
| Last updated 14 June 2023 |||||||

### International statistics

    As of match played 21 November 2023
Mauritius :
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2015 | 3 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | 12 | 7 |
| 2022 | 5 | 1 |
| 2023 | 12 | 3 |
| Total | 33 | 11 |