Ghanaian footballer (born 1990)
Mubarak Wakaso (pronunciation ⓘ Arabic : مبارك واكاسو ; born 25 July 1990) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the Ghana national team .
He spent the better part of his career in Spain, starting out at Elche in 2008 and going on to also represent Villarreal , Espanyol , Las Palmas , Granada and Alavés . He also competed professionally in Russia, Scotland, Greece, China and Belgium.
Wakaso appeared with the Ghana national team at the 2014 World Cup , as well as five Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
Club career
Wakaso before a game with Villarreal in 2011
Early years and Spain
Born in Tamale , Northern Region , Wakaso began his senior career in Ashanti Gold SC . In 2008, he moved abroad and signed with Elche CF in Spain on a five-year contract, but only joined the club nearly two months later, however, due to international duty.[ 1]
In late January 2011, after several bouts of indiscipline and internal codes violations,[ 2] Wakaso was released by the Valencians .[ 3] Shortly after, he joined another side in the region and Segunda División , Villarreal CF 's B team .
On 27 February 2011, Wakaso made his La Liga debut, coming on as a substitute for José Catalá in the last minutes of a 2–2 away draw against Racing de Santander .[ 4] He only played six matches in his first full season , and the Yellow Submarine was also relegated after 12 years in the top flight.
Wakaso signed for RCD Espanyol on 11 July 2012, penning a four-year contract.[ 5] He started in 23 of his league appearances for the Catalans in his only season .
Rubin Kazan
In the last days of the 2013 summer transfer window , Wakaso moved to the Russian Premier League with FC Rubin Kazan .[ 6] On 28 August 2014, he joined Celtic on a season -long loan.[ 7]
Wakaso scored on his competitive debut for Celtic, netting the first in a 2–2 away draw against FC Red Bull Salzburg in the UEFA Europa League group stage.[ 8] On 30 August 2015, after appearing rarely, he was loaned to UD Las Palmas for one year.[ 9]
Panathinaikos
On 10 July 2016, Wakaso signed a three-year contract with Super League Greece club Panathinaikos F.C. for an undisclosed fee.[ 10] On 15 September, in the last minute of a Europa League group phase home fixture against AFC Ajax , he was sent off – as teammate Ivan Ivanov midway through the second half of the eventual 1–2 home loss[ 11] – and UEFA subsequently suspended him a further two games after his initial ban was over.[ 12]
On 1 February 2017, Wakaso was loaned to another Spanish top-flight side, Granada CF .[ 13] [ 14] He scored his first goal for them on 1 March, helping to a 2–1 home win over Deportivo Alavés .[ 15]
Alavés
On 17 July 2017, the day after mutually terminating his contract,[ 16] Wakaso signed a three-year deal with Alavés.[ 17] He scored his only competitive goal for the Basques on 18 May 2019, in a 2–1 home defeat of Girona FC who were relegated as a result.[ 18]
China
Wakaso transferred to Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning F.C. on 18 January 2020.[ 19] On 12 April of the following year, he joined Shenzhen F.C. in the same country after the former were dissolved.[ 20]
International career
Wakaso represented Ghana at the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Peru, playing two matches in an eventual group stage exit (three draws).[ 21] He made his full international debut on 13 October 2012, in a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Malawi .[ 22]
On 14 November 2012, Wakaso scored his first goal in a friendly with Cape Verde .[ 23] He was picked for the squad that appeared at the 2013 CAN in South Africa, notably netting the game's only goal in a group stage fixture against Mali , through a penalty kick ,[ 24] then scoring both in the 2–0 quarter-final win over Cape Verde.[ 25]
Wakaso was selected by manager James Kwesi Appiah for his 2014 FIFA World Cup squad.[ 26] He made his debut in the tournament on 21 June, playing 22 minutes in a 2–2 draw with Germany .[ 27]
On 5 February 2015, Wakaso netted the second goal in Ghana's 3–0 victory against Equatorial Guinea in the semi-finals of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations to take them to the final.[ 28] [ 29] In the decisive match, against the Ivory Coast , he scored his penalty shootout attempt in an eventual 9–8 loss.[ 30]
Personal life
Wakaso's younger brother, Alhassan , is also a footballer and a midfielder. He spent most of his career in Portugal.[ 31] [ 32]
Wakaso is a practising Muslim .[ 33] In October 2018, while heading to Bilbao 's Loiu airport to travel to Ghana, he was unhurt following a car accident.[ 34]
Career statistics
Club
As of match played 25 August 2023 [ 35] [ 36]
International
As of match played 14 June 2022 [ 37]
Ghana
Year
Apps
Goals
2012
2
1
2013
13
6
2014
10
1
2015
14
3
2016
6
1
2017
6
0
2018
1
0
2019
8
0
2020
1
0
2021
6
1
2022
3
0
Total
70
13
As of match played 3 September 2021. Ghana score listed first, score column indicates score after each Wakaso goal. [ 37] [ 23] [ 38] [ 35] [ 39]
List of international goals scored by Mubarak Wakaso
No.
Date
Venue
Opponent
Score
Result
Competition
1
14 November 2012
Estádio Universitário , Lisbon , Portugal
Cape Verde
1 –0
1–0
Friendly
2
13 January 2013
Sheikh Zayed , Abu Dhabi , United Arab Emirates
Tunisia
2 –2
4–2
3
24 January 2013
Nelson Mandela Bay , Port Elizabeth , South Africa
Mali
1 –0
1–0
2013 Africa Cup of Nations
4
2 February 2013
Nelson Mandela Bay, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Cape Verde
1 –0
2–0
2013 Africa Cup of Nations
5
2 –0
2–0
6
6 February 2013
Mbombela , Nelspruit , South Africa
Burkina Faso
1 –0
1–1
7
24 March 2013
Baba Yara , Kumasi , Ghana
Sudan
2 –0
4–0
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
8
19 November 2014
Tamale Stadium , Tamale, Ghana
Togo
2 –0
3–1
2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
9
5 February 2015
Estadio de Malabo , Malabo , Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea
2 –0
3–0
2015 Africa Cup of Nations
10
5 September 2015
Amahoro , Kigali , Rwanda
Rwanda
1 –0
3–0
2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
11
17 November 2015
Baba Yara, Kumasi, Ghana
Comoros
1 –0
2–0
2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
12
11 October 2016
Moses Mabhida , Durban , South Africa
South Africa
1 –0
1–1
Friendly
13
3 September 2021
Cape Coast Sports Stadium , Cape Coast , Ghana
Ethiopia
1 –0
1–0
2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
Honours
Celtic
Jiangsu Suning
Ghana
Individual
References
^ El ghanés Wakaso Mubarak empieza a dejar constancia de sus 'poderes' (Ghanaian Wakaso Mubarak starts showing his 'powers') ; La Verdad , July 2008 (in Spanish)
^ Wakaso Mubarak, cielo e infierno en un mismo lugar (Wakaso Mubarak, heaven and hell in the same place) ; Rayo Herald, 16 December 2010 (in Spanish)
^ El Elche despide al ghanés Wakaso Mubarak (Elche fire Ghanaian Wakaso Mubarak) Archived 7 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine ; El Diario Vasco , 31 January 2011 (in Spanish)
^ Last-gasp Nilmar earns point ; ESPN Soccernet , 27 February 2011
^ Juárez, Mari Carmen (11 July 2012). "Wakaso ficha por el Espanyol" [Wakaso ficha por el Espanyol] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo . Retrieved 21 September 2013 .
^ МУБАРАК ВАКАСО ПЕРЕШЕЛ В "РУБИН" [Mubarak Wakaso moved to Rubin] (in Russian). FC Rubin Kazan. 28 August 2013. Archived from the original on 2 September 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013 .
^ McGill, John (23 August 2014). "Rubin: We had to let Wakaso go to Celtic" . Evening Times . Retrieved 23 August 2014 .
^ Campbell, Andy (18 September 2014). "FC Red Bull Salzburg 2–2 Celtic" . BBC Sport . Retrieved 18 September 2014 .
^ "Wakaso, centrocampista internacional ghanés, llega cedido del Rubin Kazan" [Wakaso, Ghanaian international midfielder, arrives on loan from Rubin Kazan] (in Spanish). UD Las Palmas. 30 August 2015. Archived from the original on 2 September 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015 .
^ Tsimpidas, Bampis (10 July 2016). "Υπέγραψε συμβόλαιο τριετούς διάρκειας ο Γουακάσο" [Wakaso signed a three-year contract] (in Greek). Sport 24. Retrieved 10 July 2016 .
^ "Panathinaikos 1–2 Ajax" . UEFA. 16 September 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016 .
^ " "Καμπάνα" από UEFA σε Παναθηναϊκό και Γουακάσο" (in Greek). Naftemporiki . 8 October 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016 .
^ Narkortu Teye, Prince (1 February 2017). "Wakaso joins Granada on loan" . Goal . Retrieved 1 February 2017 .
^ "Wakaso joins Granada on loan from Panathinaikos" . Citi FM Online. 1 February 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017 .
^ Rodrigálvarez, Eduardo (2 March 2017). "El Granada resucita ante un Alavés moribundo" [Granada come back to life against dying Alavés] (in Spanish). El País . Retrieved 10 March 2017 .
^ "Mubarak Wakaso terminates Panathinaikos contract" . Goal. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2017 .
^ "El Deportivo Alavés ficha a Wakaso para las tres próximas temporadas" [Deportivo Alavés sign Wakaso for the following three seasons] (in Spanish). Deportivo Alavés. 17 July 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017 .
^ "El Alavés finaliza la temporada con victoria y manda al Girona a Segunda" [Alavés end season with win and send Girona to Segunda ] (in Spanish). EITB . 18 May 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2020 .
^ "Wakaso cierra su etapa en el Deportivo Alavés" [Wakaso ends his spell at Deportivo Alavés] (in Spanish). Deportivo Alavés. 18 January 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2020 .
^ Amoasi Appiah, Samuel Ekow (12 April 2021). "Confirmed: Ghana midfielder Mubarak Wakaso joins Chinese side Shenzhen FC" . Modern Ghana. Retrieved 15 April 2021 .
^ Mubarak Wakaso – FIFA competition record (archived)
^ Ghana first to reach 2013 Nations Cup ; Ghana Web, 13 October 2012
^ a b Paul, Simon (14 November 2012). "Cape Verde 0–1 Ghana: Mubarak Wakaso scores debut goal for Black Stars" . Goal. Retrieved 19 November 2014 .
^ Ghana 1–0 Mali ; BBC Sport, 23 January 2013
^ Hughes, Ian (2 February 2013). "Ghana 2–0 Cape Verde" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 February 2013 .
^ "Ghana World Cup 2014 squad" . The Daily Telegraph . 2 June 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014 .
^ "Germany, Ghana share spoils in Fortaleza thriller" . FIFA. 21 June 2014. Archived from the original on 23 June 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014 .
^ Hughes, Ian (5 February 2015). "Ghana 3–0 Equatorial Guinea" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 February 2015 .
^ "Violence halts African Nations Cup semi-final as Ghana beats Equatorial Guinea 3–0" . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 5 February 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015 .
^ Hughes, Ian (8 February 2015). "Ivory Coast 0–0 Ghana" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 February 2015 .
^ Taiwo, Taiye (5 June 2018). "EXTRA TIME: Wakaso brothers link up with Jordan Ayew" . Goal. Retrieved 26 June 2019 .
^ Freeman Yeboah, Thomas (7 January 2019). "Mubarak Wakaso celebrates Alhassan Wakaso on his 26th birthday" . Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 26 June 2019 .
^ "Footballer flashing 'Allah is Great' T-shirt escapes punishment" . The Muslim News . 8 March 2013. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014 .
^ Fajah Barrie, Mohamed (7 October 2018). "Mubarak Wakaso: Ghana midfielder escapes unhurt from car accident" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 October 2018 .
^ a b c Mubarak Wakaso at Soccerway
^ "Mubarak, Wakaso" . Fitbastats. Retrieved 19 November 2014 .
^ a b Mubarak Wakaso at National-Football-Teams.com
^ Gyimah, Edmund Okai (13 January 2013). "Ghana 4–2 Tunisia: Black Stars came from behind to beat Carthage Eagles" . Goal. Retrieved 19 November 2014 .
^ Swaby, Sean (19 November 2014). "Wakaso Mubarak scores incredible goal from distance for Ghana against Togo" . Bleacher Report . Retrieved 19 November 2014 .
^ "Bit-part Mubarak Wakaso wins first career silverware as Celtic are declared Scottish champions" . Ghana Soccernet. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2021 .
^ "Inspired Teixeira drags Jiangsu to first Chinese Super League title" . France 24 . 12 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020 .
^ Hughes, Ian (8 February 2015). "Ivory Coast 0–0 Ghana" . BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 August 2019 .
^ Okai Gyimah, Edmund (8 February 2013). "Valencia to make summer swoop for Espanyol's Mubarak Wakaso" . Goal. Retrieved 8 August 2019 .
^ "Bassogog named Total Man of the Competition" . CAF Online. 6 February 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2019 .
External links
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