Mubarak Wakaso ( ar, مبارك واكاسو; born 25 July 1990) is a Ghanaian Association football, footballer who plays for Belgian club K.A.S. Eupen, on loan from Shenzhen F.C., and the Ghana national football team, Ghana national team as a midfielder. He spent the better part of his career in Spain, starting out at Elche CF, Elche in 2008 and going on to also represent Villarreal CF, Villarreal, RCD Espanyol, Espanyol, UD Las Palmas, Las Palmas, Granada CF, Granada and Deportivo Alavés, Alavés. He also competed professionally in Russia, Scotland, Greece and China. Wakaso appeared with the Ghana national football team, Ghana national team at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, 2014 World Cup, as well as five Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

Club career

Early years and Spain

Born in Tamale, Ghana, Tamale, Northern Region (Ghana), 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. In late January 2011, after several bouts of indiscipline and internal codes violations, Wakaso was released by the Valencian Community, Valencians. Shortly after, he joined another side in the region and Segunda División, Villarreal CF's Villarreal CF B, B team. On 27 February 2011, Wakaso made his La Liga debut, coming on as a Substitute (association football), substitute for José Catalá in the last minutes of a 2–2 away draw against Racing de Santander. He only played six matches in his 2011–12 La Liga, 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. He started in 23 of his league appearances for the Catalonia, Catalans in his 2012–13 La Liga, 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. On 28 August 2014, he joined Celtic F.C., Celtic on a 2014–15 Scottish Premiership, season-long loan. Wakaso scored on his competitive debut for Celtic, netting the first in a 2014–15 UEFA Europa League, 2–2 away draw against FC Red Bull Salzburg in the UEFA Europa League group stage. On 30 August 2015, after appearing rarely, he was loaned to UD Las Palmas for one year.

Panathinaikos

On 10 July 2016, Wakaso signed a three-year contract with Super League Greece club Panathinaikos F.C. for an undisclosed fee. On 15 September, in the last minute of a 2016–17 UEFA Europa League, Europa League group phase home fixture against AFC Ajax, he was Ejection (sports), sent off – as teammate Ivan Ivanov (footballer, born 1988), Ivan Ivanov midway through the second half of the eventual 1–2 home loss– and UEFA subsequently suspended him a further two games after his initial ban was over. On 1 February 2017, Wakaso was loaned to another Spanish top-flight side, Granada CF. He scored his first goal for them on 1 March, helping to a 2–1 home win over Deportivo Alavés.

Alavés

On 17 July 2017, the day after mutually terminating his contract, Wakaso signed a three-year deal with Alavés. He scored his only competitive goal for the Basque Country (autonomous community), Basques on 18 May 2019, in a 2–1 home defeat of Girona FC who were 2018–19 La Liga, relegated as a result.

China

Wakaso transferred to Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning F.C. on 18 January 2020. On 12 April of the following year, he joined Shenzhen F.C. in the same country after the former were dissolved.

International career

Wakaso represented Ghana national under-17 football team, Ghana at the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Peru, playing two matches in an eventual group stage exit (three draws). He made his Ghana national football team, full international debut on 13 October 2012, in a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, qualifier against Malawi national football team, Malawi. On 14 November 2012, Wakaso scored his first goal in a Exhibition game, friendly with Cape Verde national football team, Cape Verde. 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 national football team, Mali, through a Penalty kick (association football), penalty kick, then scoring both in the 2–0 quarter-final win over Cape Verde. Wakaso was selected by manager James Kwesi Appiah for his 2014 FIFA World Cup squad. He made his debut in the tournament on 21 June, playing 22 minutes in a 2–2 draw with Germany national football team, Germany. On 5 February 2015, Wakaso netted the second goal in Ghana's 3–0 victory against Equatorial Guinea national football team, Equatorial Guinea in the semi-finals of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations to take them to the final. In the decisive match, against the Ivory Coast national football team, Ivory Coast, he scored his Penalty shoot-out (association football), penalty shootout attempt in an eventual 9–8 loss.

Personal life

Wakaso's younger brother, Alhassan Wakaso, Alhassan, is also a footballer and a midfielder. He spent most of his career in Portugal. Wakaso is a practicing Muslim. In October 2018, while heading to Bilbao's Loiu airport to travel to Ghana, he was unhurt following a car accident.

Career statistics

Club

International

''Ghana score listed first, score column indicates score after each Wakaso goal.''

Honours

Celtic *Scottish Premiership: 2014–15 Scottish Premiership, 2014–15 *Scottish League Cup: 2014–15 Scottish League Cup, 2014–15 Jiangsu Suning *Chinese Super League: 2020 Chinese Super League, 2020 Ghana *Africa Cup of Nations runner-up: 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, 2015 Individual *Africa Cup of Nations records and statistics, Africa Cup of Nations top scorer: 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, 2013 (4 goals) *Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament: 2017 Africa Cup of Nations#Awards, 2017

References

External links

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Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wakaso, Mubarak 1990 births Living people People from Northern Region (Ghana) Dagomba people Ghanaian Muslims Ghanaian footballers Association football midfielders Ashanti Gold SC players La Liga players Segunda División players Elche CF players Villarreal CF B players Villarreal CF players RCD Espanyol footballers UD Las Palmas players Granada CF footballers Deportivo Alavés players Russian Premier League players FC Rubin Kazan players Scottish Professional Football League players Celtic F.C. players Super League Greece players Panathinaikos F.C. players Chinese Super League players Jiangsu F.C. players Shenzhen F.C. players Belgian First Division A players K.A.S. Eupen players Ghana international footballers 2013 Africa Cup of Nations players 2014 FIFA World Cup players 2015 Africa Cup of Nations players 2017 Africa Cup of Nations players 2019 Africa Cup of Nations players 2021 Africa Cup of Nations players Ghanaian expatriate footballers Expatriate footballers in Spain Expatriate footballers in Russia Expatriate footballers in Scotland Expatriate footballers in Greece Expatriate footballers in China Expatriate footballers in Belgium Ghanaian expatriate sportspeople in Spain Ghanaian expatriate sportspeople in Russia Ghanaian expatriate sportspeople in Greece Ghanaian expatriate sportspeople in China Ghanaian expatriate sportspeople in Belgium