
Toronto FC Select Four Players in 2020 MLS SuperDraft
January 9, 2020 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Toronto FC News Release
Toronto FC made four selections in today's MLS SuperDraft. In the first round, TFC picked defender Nyal Higgins (19th overall) from Syracuse University and forward Ifunanyachi Achara (25th overall) from Georgetown University. Defenders Malick Mbaye (33rd overall) from Clemson University and Simon Waever (51st overall) from Indiana University were selected in the second round.
Higgins, 21, split his college career between Oakland University (2016-2018) and Syracuse University (2019). With Oakland University, Higgins appeared in 49 games and scored four goals in three seasons. Higgins was recognized as All-Horizon League Second Team in 2017 and 2018, and Horizon League-All Freshman Team in 2016. During his senior year with Syracuse University, Higgins made 19 appearances, starting all games in which he played.
Achara, 23, native from Enugu, Nigeria, spent four seasons with Georgetown University. In his last season with the Hoyas, Achara made 15 appearances and registered six goals and five assists and helped lead Georgetown to the NCAA Division I title.
Mbaye, 24, native from Dakar, Senegal, spent three seasons with Clemson University, where he appeared in 49 games. In 2016, Mbaye was named to the All-ACC Freshman Team, TopDrawer Soccer Best XI and earned the team's Newcomer of the Year award.
Waever, 23, split his collegiate career between University of Evansville (2016-2018) and Indiana University (2019). With Evansville, Waever made 59 appearances and registered two goals and 11 assists over three seasons. During his senior year with Indiana University, Waever appeared in 21 games and registered four assists. He was named All-Big Ten Second Team in 2019.
NYAL HIGGINS
Position: Defender
Height: 6'2
Weight: 173
Birthdate: January 19, 1998 (21 years)
Hometown: Ajax, Ontario
Nationality: Canadian
College: Syracuse University
IFUNANYACHI ACHARA
Position: Forward
Height: 5'10
Weight: 161
Birthdate: September 28, 1997 (23 years)
Hometown: Enugu, Nigeria
Nationality: Nigerian
College: Georgetown University
MALICK MBAYE
Position: Defender
Height: 6'0
Weight: 168
Birthdate: November 24, 1996 (24 years)
Hometown: Dakar, Senegal
Nationality: Senegalese
College: Clemson University
SIMON WAEVER
Position: Defender
Height: 5'11
Weight: 155
Birthdate: January 21, 1996 (23 years)
Hometown: Holte, Denmark
Nationality: Danish
College: Indiana University
Major League Soccer Stories from January 9, 2020
- Columbus Crew SC Selects Three Players in Opening Rounds of 2020 MLS SuperDraft - Columbus Crew SC
- Sounders FC Selects Two Players on First Day of 2020 MLS SuperDraft Presented by Adidas - Seattle Sounders FC
- Houston Dynamo Select FW Garrett McLaughlin & MF Luka Prpa at 2020 MLS SuperDraft - Houston Dynamo FC
- FC Dallas Selects Three Players in 2020 MLS SuperDraft - FC Dallas
- LAFC Selects Two Players in 2020 MLS SuperDraft - Los Angeles FC
- Earthquakes Select Stanford Defender Tanner Beason in First Round of 2020 MLS SuperDraft - San Jose Earthquakes
- Andre Reynolds II Called into U.S. U-20 Men's National Team Camp - Chicago Fire FC
- Chicago Fire FC Acquires $100,000 in General Allocation Money, Selects Defender/Midfielder Jonathan Jimenez in 2020 MLS SuperDraft - Chicago Fire FC
- Atlanta United Selects Patrick Nielsen with No. 23 Pick in 2020 MLS SuperDraft - Atlanta United FC
- Inter Miami CF Uses No. 1 Overall Pick to Select Robbie Robinson of Clemson Univ. in 2020 MLS SuperDraft - MLS
- Revolution Make Three Selections in 2020 MLS SuperDraft - New England Revolution
- Nashville SC Selects Four Players in First Two Rounds of 2020 MLS SuperDraft Presented by Adidas - Nashville SC
- LA Galaxy Select Defender Tom Smart in 2020 MLS SuperDraft - LA Galaxy
- Whitecaps FC Select Midfielder Ryan Raposo and Goalkeeper Daniel Gagliardi at 2020 MLS SuperDraft - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Orlando City Selects Forward Daryl Dike in 2020 MLS SuperDraft - Orlando City SC
- New York Red Bulls Draft Four in 2020 MLS SuperDraft Day One - New York Red Bulls
- MNUFC Selects Defender Noah Billingsley in First Round of 2020 MLS SuperDraft - Minnesota United FC
- Timbers to Offer Free Axe Portrait Photo Shoot to Public Starting January 25 at Providence Park - Portland Timbers
- Toronto FC Select Four Players in 2020 MLS SuperDraft - Toronto FC
- Atlanta United Signs Anton Walkes from Portsmouth FC - Atlanta United FC
- D.C. United Select Forward Josh Fawole with the 42nd Overall Pick in 2020 MLS SuperDraft - D.C. United
- Timbers Select Midfielder Aaron Molloy in First Round of 2020 MLS SuperDraft - Portland Timbers
- Real Salt Lake Selects Two Players in 2020 MLS SuperDraft - Real Salt Lake
- D.C. United Select Goalkeeper Simon Lefebvre with 21st Overall Pick in 2020 MLS SuperDraft - D.C. United
- Impact Acquires $75,000 in General Allocation Money - Club de Foot Montreal
- Inter Miami CF Selects Robbie Robinson, Dylan Nealis in 2020 MLS SuperDraft First Round - Inter Miami CF
- Philadelphia Union Acquire No. 17 Pick in the 2020 Allocation Ranking from D.C. United - Philadelphia Union
- Atlanta United Announces Roster Moves - Atlanta United FC
- D.C. United Acquire the 21st Pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft from Philadelphia - D.C. United
- Mavinga Signs New Deal with Toronto FC - Toronto FC
- New York City FC Names Nick Cushing as Assistant Coach - New York City FC
- Zac Brown Band Headlines 2020 National Soccer Hall of Fame Induction Weekend - FC Dallas
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Toronto FC Stories
- Toronto FC (1) - Atlanta United (1) Postgame Summary
- Former Toronto FC Player Tsubasa Endoh Signs One-Day Contract to Retire as a Red
- Toronto FC and Special Olympics Ontario Announce 2025 Unified Exchange Roster
- New York City FC (3) - Toronto FC (1) Postgame Summary
- Toronto FC Sign Reid Fisher and Malik Henry to MLS Short-Term Agreements

