Nidal Baba
Encyclopedia
Nidal Baba is a retired U.S. soccer midfielder
who was a member of the U.S. U-16 national team
at the 1989 FIFA U-16 World Championship
. He also played three games with the MetroStars
during the 1996 Major League Soccer
season.
Baba attended Humble High School
where he was a two-time Parade Magazine High School All American soccer player. In 1989, he was a member of the U.S. U-16 national team
at the 1989 FIFA U-16 World Championship
. His brother, Imad, scored the winning goal as the U.S. defeated Brazil, the team finished group play with a 1-1-1 record, and failed to qualify for the second round. He went on to play several games that fall with the U.S. U-20 national team
. He then attended Clemson University
, playing on the men’s soccer team from 1992 to 1994. He finished he career with 13 goals and 17 assists. On February 7, 1996, the MetroStars
selected Baba in the 14th round (139th overall) in the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
. He played only three games before being released. In 2002, he worked with his brother Imad Baba
in a nutrition store in Houston, Texas.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who was a member of the U.S. U-16 national team
United States U-17 men's national soccer team
The United States U-17 men's national soccer team is the national under-17 association football team of the United States and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation...
at the 1989 FIFA U-16 World Championship
1989 FIFA U-16 World Championship
The FIFA U-16 World Championship 1989 was held in the Scottish cities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Motherwell, Aberdeen, and Dundee between 10 June and 24 June 1989...
. He also played three games with the MetroStars
Metrostars
Metrostar may refer to:*New York Red Bulls, formerly called the "MetroStars", a soccer team from New York*Manila Metro Rail Transit System, popularly called "The Metrostar Express", a part of the metropolitan rail system in Manila...
during the 1996 Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
season.
Baba attended Humble High School
Humble High School
Humble High School is a secondary school located in the Humble Independent School District in Humble, Texas, United States.Humble High School , which serves grades 9 through 12, serves the city of Humble, the Moonshine Hill area of Houston, and unincorporated communities north of Beltway 8...
where he was a two-time Parade Magazine High School All American soccer player. In 1989, he was a member of the U.S. U-16 national team
United States U-17 men's national soccer team
The United States U-17 men's national soccer team is the national under-17 association football team of the United States and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation...
at the 1989 FIFA U-16 World Championship
1989 FIFA U-16 World Championship
The FIFA U-16 World Championship 1989 was held in the Scottish cities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Motherwell, Aberdeen, and Dundee between 10 June and 24 June 1989...
. His brother, Imad, scored the winning goal as the U.S. defeated Brazil, the team finished group play with a 1-1-1 record, and failed to qualify for the second round. He went on to play several games that fall with the U.S. U-20 national team
United States U-20 men's national soccer team
The United States U-20 men's national soccer team is the national under-20 soccer team of the United States of America and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation. The highest level of competition in which the team competes is the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every two years.The...
. He then attended Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
, playing on the men’s soccer team from 1992 to 1994. He finished he career with 13 goals and 17 assists. On February 7, 1996, the MetroStars
Metrostars
Metrostar may refer to:*New York Red Bulls, formerly called the "MetroStars", a soccer team from New York*Manila Metro Rail Transit System, popularly called "The Metrostar Express", a part of the metropolitan rail system in Manila...
selected Baba in the 14th round (139th overall) in the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
The MLS Inaugural Player Draft, held before Major League Soccer's initial 1996 season, distributed players who had already graduated from college to the league's ten inaugural teams. The draft occurred on February 6 and 7, 1996...
. He played only three games before being released. In 2002, he worked with his brother Imad Baba
Imad Baba
Imad Baba is a retired American soccer midfielder. He spent seven years in Major League Soccer with the New England Revolution and Colorado Rapids. He was also a member of the American squads at the 1989 U-16 World Championships, 1993 U-20 World Cup and the 1996 Summer Olympics...
in a nutrition store in Houston, Texas.