In today’s edition of Pundit Daily Digest, dream debut for Awaziem, Demba Ba retires from football, Ghana sack CK Akonnor, Messi highest in FIFA 22 ratings and more.
It’s another edition of Pundit Daily Digest and it promises to be as entertaining as ever. Let’s take a look at the trendiest football news from around the world.
1. Demba Ba Hangs His Boots
Former Chelsea and Senegal striker Demba Ba has announced his retirement from professional football.
The 36-year-old brought an end to his 16-year football career on Monday after leaving Swiss club Lugano in August.
He played in the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim, before switching to England to join West Ham United in January 2011.
The forward had his most prolific stint at Newcastle United where he scored 29 goals in 54 Premier League games.
However, his most successful stints came at Chelsea where he won the UEFA Europa League and at the Turkish Super Lig where he won titles with Besiktas and Istanbul Basaksehir in the 2016-17 and 2019-20 seasons respectively.
Ba has 22 international caps for Senegal after having played for his country between 2007 and 2015 where he managed to score four times.
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2. UEFA Ban “Three Birds” On Ajax Kit
Dutch side Ajax have been banned by UEFA from wearing their Bob Marley-inspired kit saying it contained imagery that goes against the federation’s rules.
The strip which was worn by Ajax for the first time in their Eredivisie victory away to PEC Zwolle on Saturday, was inspired by the song Three Little Birds which has become an anthem for Ajax fans.
However, the club has been forced to remove the three birds stitched on the back just below the collar because it serves as a different expression than the club logo, logo clothing sponsor or sleeve sponsor which is not allowed according to UEFA rulings.
3. Messi Most Highly Rated In FIFA 22 Ratings
Paris Saint-Germain forward Lionel Messi has been confirmed as the highest rated player in the forthcoming FIFA 22 video game.
Messi comes out top with an overall rating of 93 and is quickly followed by Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski who has a rating of 92.
Manchester United’s newest summer signing Cristiano Ronaldo comes in third place with a rating of 91.
Also rated 91 is Manchester City’s midfielder maestro Kevin De Bruyne, PSG duo Neymar and Kylian Mbappe and Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
Other notable ratings include Harry Kane and N’Golo Kante who are both rated 90. Liverpool quartet Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker are all rated 89.
Bruno Fernandes, Romelu Lukaku and Erling Haaland are rated 88.
4. Ghana Sack Coach CK Akonnor
Ghana have parted ways with national team coach CK Akonnor following the nation’s underwhelming start to the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, the Football Association has announced.
The association also confirmed that assistant coaches David Duncan and Dutchman Patrick Graveraars have also been given the sack.
Akonnor leaves his post as coach of the Ghana Black Stars after almost two years at the helm of affairs after initially joining in January 2020, replacing James Kwasi Appiah. In his 11 official games in charge, he lost five, won four and drew two.
The Ghanaian FA are now in the market for a new coach to spearhead the rest of the qualifying campaign and who will hopefully guide them to qualification.
Ghana opened their Qatar 2022 qualifying campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 home win over Ethiopia, before falling to a 1-0 defeat away to South Africa last week.
The results have left the Black Stars third on the table in Group G, ahead of a double-header against Zimbabwe next month.
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5. Awaziem Scores On Alanyaspor Debut
Super Eagles star Chidozie Awaziem had a dream debut as he scored a header in his first Super Lig game to power Alanyaspor to a 1-0 victory over Giresunspor on Monday evening.
Awaziem who joined the Turkish side on a season-long loan from Portuguese club Boavista, was immediately drafted into the club’s starting XI by manager Bulent Korkmaz.
It took him only eight minutes to make his mark with a nice header from a well-taken free kick by Emre Akbaba past goalkeeper Onurcan Piri.
The defender played all 90 minutes and his goal was the only one in the game. He was also integral in his side keeping a clean sheet.
Alanyaspor president Hasan Cavusoglu claimed he had no doubt Awaziem would be able to help the squad.
“Awaziem is now a part of Alanyaspor. We’re together until the end of the season. I think we will have a good season.”
Alanyaspor will take on Galatasaray in their next fixture on September 19.
This article was compiled by Muslihat Shaka.
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