Faniel Tewelde

Faniel Temesgen Tewelde (born 9 September 2006) is a Norwegian footballer who plays as a forward for Odd.

Club career
Tewelde began his career with Herkules, before moving to Odd mid-way through the 2019 season. made his debut for Odd's third team in the 5. divisjon, the sixth tier of Norwegian football, on 24 August 2021, featuring in a 3–1 home loss to Urædd. In his second game, he scored two goals in a 6–1 win against Snøgg. Following an impressive start to his career with Odd's reserve team, he signed his first professional contract with the club in December 2021 at the age of fifteen, making him the youngest player to do so in the club's history.

The following season, having featured mostly for Odd's second team in the third-tier 2. divisjon, Tewelde made his professional debut for the senior squad; having come on as a substitute for Syver Aas in the second half of their Eliteserien game against Lillestrøm with the score at 0–0, he needed only four minutes to provide an assist for Mikael Ingebrigtsen to open the scoring. Five minutes later, his shot was saved by Lillestrøm goalkeeper Mads Hedenstad Christiansen, before falling to teammate Dennis Gjengaar who scored the game's second goal as Odd won 2–0. In December 2022, despite only having signed his first professional contract the year prior, he extended his deal, keeping him with the club until 2025.

Ahead of the 2023 season, Tewelde featured in a 2–1 friendly win against Jerv. His first goal for the club came in a 5–2 Norwegian Football Cup win against Notodden on 1 June. Three days later, he scored his first Eliteserien goal for the club, though it came in a 4–1 away loss to Sandefjord. Two months later, on 6 August, he scored in a 4–0 win against Stabæk; having come off the bench late into additional time with the score at 3–0, he took advantage of Stabæk goalkeeper Isak Pettersson coming up for a corner, and having received the ball on half-way from Leonard Owusu's deflected shot, he dribbled to the penalty area before slotting into an empty net.

International career
Tewelde has represented Norway from under-15 to under-17 level.

Style of play
Tewelde has been described by journalist Robin Haugen as an extremely quick footballer with great dribbling ability.

Club

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