Hafiz Ibrahim embraces growth at Ligue 2 club Stade de Reims

Hafiz Ibrahim says he is enjoying his development at French Ligue 2 side Stade de Reims, as he works hard to continue improving and reaching his potential.

The Nigerian joined the French club in August 2024, initially featuring for their reserve team in the Championnat National 3 before forcing his way into senior contention.

🇳🇬 Le but du doublé pour Hafiz Ibrahim 🔥#USBCOSDR pic.twitter.com/VzLOL8uSq1

— Stade de Reims (@StadeDeReims) October 29, 2025

Mental resilience amidst injury

Speaking ahead of his side’s game on Monday, the forward expressed his pleasure in playing professional football, while also reflecting on the time he has spent off the pitch due to injuries:

“I’m proud to play in Europe. It was a dream. Everything is happening very quickly in my development, which makes the experience even more exciting. I’m working hard on myself to keep improving, becoming better, and scoring as many goals as possible.

Injuries are part of football. The most important thing is how you come back. You have to maintain the right mentality to get back in shape and help the team. At the club, everyone works hard and we push each other to improve.”

The 20-year-old also admitted that the team is facing a scoring facing a scoring drought but remained confident that the goals will return through commitment.

“We haven’t scored a goal in four matches. In a season, there can also be more difficult periods. The important thing is to continue to commit and give everything to win matches. These are moments that happen in football. Talking about it doesn’t change much: now, we need to show results on the pitch.”

Ibrahim’s season to date at Reims

This season, Ibrahim has scored five goals in 19 Ligue 2 appearances, though injuries have restricted him to only eight starts. He has also registered one assist, won a penalty, and missed six big chances—indicating there is still significant room for growth.

Reims began the campaign with promotion back to Ligue 1 as their primary objective, and that target remains within reach. However, the club currently trails Saint-Étienne, who occupy the second automatic promotion spot, by four points, following four consecutive 0-0 draws.

Hafiz Ibrahim says he is enjoying his development at French Ligue 2 side Stade de Reims as he continues working hard to improve his game and reach his full potential.

The Nigerian forward joined the French club in August 2024 and initially featured for the reserve team in the Championnat National 3. His performances at that level quickly attracted attention, and he soon forced his way into senior contention thanks to his work rate, pace, and eye for goal.

For Ibrahim, the move to Europe represented a major milestone in his football journey. Like many young African players, he grew up dreaming of playing at the highest level in Europe, and the opportunity to join Reims marked a significant step forward in his career.

Mental resilience amidst injury

Speaking ahead of his side’s game on Monday, the forward expressed his excitement about playing professional football in Europe while also reflecting on the challenges he has faced due to injuries during the season.

“I’m proud to play in Europe. It was a dream. Everything is happening very quickly in my development, which makes the experience even more exciting,” Ibrahim said.

“I’m working hard on myself to keep improving, becoming better, and scoring as many goals as possible.”

However, the 20-year-old has not had a completely smooth campaign. Injuries have limited his playing time at various stages of the season, forcing him to spend time recovering and regaining fitness.

Despite these setbacks, Ibrahim has maintained a positive attitude and believes that overcoming such challenges is part of a footballer’s growth.

“Injuries are part of football. The most important thing is how you come back,” he explained.

“You have to maintain the right mentality to get back in shape and help the team. At the club, everyone works hard and we push each other to improve.”

His comments highlight the mental resilience required for young players trying to establish themselves in European football, where competition for places can be intense and expectations are high.

Reims searching for goals

The young forward also addressed his team’s recent struggles in front of goal. Stade de Reims have endured a difficult period in attack, failing to score in their last four matches.

While acknowledging the situation, Ibrahim remains confident that the team will soon rediscover its scoring touch.

“We haven’t scored a goal in four matches,” he admitted.

“In a season, there can also be more difficult periods. The important thing is to continue to commit and give everything to win matches.”

“These are moments that happen in football. Talking about it doesn’t change much: now, we need to show results on the pitch.”

Reims’ recent run of four consecutive 0-0 draws has slowed their push for promotion, but the squad still believes they can turn things around in the coming weeks.

Ibrahim’s season so far

Individually, Ibrahim has shown flashes of promise throughout the campaign. This season, he has scored five goals in 19 Ligue 2 appearances.

However, injuries have restricted him to just eight starts, limiting his opportunity to build rhythm and consistency in the starting lineup.

In addition to his goals, the Nigerian attacker has registered one assist and won a penalty for his team. Statistics also show that he has missed six big chances during the season, suggesting there is still room for improvement in his finishing.

For a young striker adapting to a new league and country, such numbers remain encouraging and indicate that Ibrahim is gradually finding his footing in French football.

Promotion remains the objective

Stade de Reims began the season with promotion back to Ligue 1 as their primary objective. That goal remains within reach despite their recent struggles.

The club currently trails Saint-Étienne, who occupy the second automatic promotion spot, by four points. With several matches still to play, Reims remain firmly in the race for promotion.

For Ibrahim, the remainder of the season represents another opportunity to continue his development while helping the team achieve its ambitions.

If he can stay fit and maintain his determination, the young Nigerian forward could play an important role in Reims’ push to return to the top flight of French football.