Ghanaian players abroad wrap-up

SPAIN: Mubarak Wakaso lasted only 29 minutes for Espanyol in their 2-2 draw at Real Madrid, the Ghanaian received the yellow card after just 13 minutes followed by several other close shaves with the law, Espanyol coach, Mexican Javier Aguirre had no choice to haul him off as they went on to record their best performance of this season at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Michael Essien was once again on the bench for Madrid who now fall a massive 13 points behind rivals Barcelona in the title race.

Elsewhere, Anthony Annan was once again overlooked, failing to make even the bench for Osasuna in their 1-1 draw at Getafe but Mohammed Abu was on the bench for Rayo Vallecano who won 1-0 at Valencia.

ITALY

Sulley Muntari returned to Serie A action for AC Milan for the first time this season. In the week after he missed out on selection for the Africa Cup of Nations, the midfield enforcer and compatriot Kevin-Prince Boateng came on as second half substitutes to power Milan to a 5th consecutive win, 4-1 this time over Pescara.

Kwadwo Asamoah was again in action for Juventus the entire match as they beat Atalanta 3-0 away to stretch their lead whilst 18 year old Isaac Coffie once again saw full time action for Chievo Verona who upset Roma 1-0.

Elsewhere, Afriyie Acquah was a second half substitute for Parma in their 4-1 win over Cagliari but Amidu Salifu was substituted after only 13 minutes, due to an inury, for Catania who beat Sampdoria 3-1 whilst Moro Alhassan was on the bench for Genoa in their 1-1 draw with Torino

Earlier on Saturday, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu gave Black Stars coach, Kwesi Appiah a lot to ponder about after going off only 41 minutes into Udinese’s 1-1 draw with Palermo whereas youngster Joseph Duncan made the Inter Milan bench for their 2-1 loss at Lazio.

In Serie B, Richmond Boakye Yiadom scored Sassoulo’s third goal in their 3-1 win at Padova that maintained their 3 point lead at the top of the table but compatriot Yusif Rahman Chibsah only watched from the bench.

Ahmed Apimah Barruso came off the bench after only 38 minutes and played till the end to power Novara to a 3-1 away victory over Bari but compatriot Masahudu Alhassan was not even on the bench for Novara who remain in the relegation zone. Boadu Acosty came on as a 72nd minute substitute but compatriot Daniel Agyei sat on the bench throughout for Juve Stabia who drew 2-2 with Cesena.

ENGLAND

Albert Adomah ended the week in which he was named in Ghana’s 26-man provisional Nations’ Cup squad with 90 minutes action for Bristol City in the Championship but could not help them suffer a 0-2 home loss to Derby County that sees them hovering just two places above the drop zone.

Newly confirmed probable Ghana international, Emmanuel Frimpong played 83 minutes before he was replaced in Charlton’s 0-2 loss at Bolton but Prince Buabeng was once again absent for Watford in their 1-1 draw at Burnley.

FRANCE

Andre Ayew wasted a 40th minute penalty but played the entire match whilst kid brother, Jordan lasted 72 minutes in Marseille’s 1-0 win away to Toulouse who played the entire second half with 9 players after receiving two first half red cards.

John Boye was for the second straight game, absent for Rennes who beat Valenciennes 2-0 whilst Rabiu Mohammed who was named in Ghana’s provisional CAN 2013 squad in midweek, only came on after 87 minutes for Evian TG in their 2-3 defeat at Nice with Jonathan Mensah who was also included in Kwesi Appiah’s list, still sidelined.

Former junior international, Ishmael Yartey was a benchwarmer for Sochaux in their 1-2 home loss to Brest.

BELGIUM

27 year old Albert Kudemor was the lone goal hero for Sporting Chaleroi after his strike from midfield secured all three points against Beerschot. Abdul-Yajinu Iddi played all 90 minutes but could not help Mechelen lose 0-2 at home to Standard Liege for who the injured Daniel Opare was still absent.

Rahim Ayew played all 90 minutes but Cofie Bekoe was not even on the bench for Lierse who ended a 3-match losing streak during which they conceded ten goals with a 1-1 home draw against 9 men Cercle Brugge, the only side below Lierse on the league table.

Elsewhere, Bernard Yao Kumordzi was introduced after 74 minutes for Genk in their 2-3 loss at Zulte-Waregem.

HOLLAND

Kwame Quansah lasted all game for Almelo Heracles as they lost 2-3 at FC Twente whose scorers included Dutch born Ghanaian youngster, Edwin Gyasi.

Nana Kwesi Asare played only 23 minutes when he was replaced for Utrecht in their 3-1 home win over Heerenveen who still had Mattew Amoah absent. Another Dutch-born Ghanaian, Johan Kapelhoff played all 90 minutes for Groningen in their goalless draw against VVV .

TURKEY

Jerry Akaminko played the entire duration for Eskisehirspor who came from two goals down to draw 2-2 at home to Bursaspor in Turkey’s Super Lig. In the second tier 1.Lig, Karim Alhassan lasted 41 minutes before he was substituted for Adana Demirspor in their 2-0 win at Goztepe whilst Torric Jebrin came on after 74 minutes for 1461 Trabzon who lost 0-1 at Boluspor.

PORTUGAL

Christian Atsu’s Porto’s match was postponed but William Tiero made his much awaited return from injury coming on as a 71st minute substitute for Gil Vicente in their 2-2 draw at Olhanense.

David Addy, still smarting from another snub by Black Stars selectors, saw full game action for Vitoria Guimaraes in their 2-1 loss at Pacos de Ferrerira.

AFRICA

In Tunisia, Harrison Afful played all 90 minutes but Emmanuel Clottey was not even on the bench for Esperance who suffered their first loss after 6 matches, 2-1 at Club Africain but are still top of the Tunisian Ligue 1 Group A after hitherto five straight wins.

In Group B, Uriah Asante’s Etoile Sahel lost 4-1 at Monastir with the former Hearts of Oak playmaker withdrawn after only 38 first half minutes whilst M Youssoufu played all 90 minutes but Hassan Youssoufo was absent for CS Sfaxien in their 0-1 defeat at EGS Gafsa.

In South Africa, Frank Sarfo Gyamfi came on as an 83rd minute substitute in Maritzburg United’s 2-1 home loss to Orlando Pirates but compatriot Mohammed Awal who has just been named in Ghana’s provisional CAN 2013 squad, was not even on the bench.

New coach has not brought any new joy to Emmanuel Baffour and Mumuni Abubakari both of who were absent in Mamelodi Sundowns’ match day squad which won 2-0 at Wits University.