Mohammed Muntari is among the strikers Qatar is relying on in their 2022 World Cup campaign.
Muntari is a Ghana-born naturalised Qatari player who honed his skills in the West African country before moving to the Asian nation where he has become one of their key men.
After he scored Qatar's first ever World Cup goal against Senegal on Friday, GOAL looks at the 28-year-old Kumasi-born striker’s journey.
Who is Mohammed Muntari?
Muntari was born in Kumasi and started his career in the Golden Lions Soccer Academy, owned by former Ghana international Nii Lamptey.
He joined Qatari side El Jaish in 2012 where he made 45 appearances and scored 18 goals before moving to Lekhwiya in 2015, where he lasted two years and left to sign for Al-Duhail. He did not make the grade immediately and was loaned twice to Al Ahli before returning to the club in 2019 where he scored 13 goals in 45 games.
GettyimagesThe TI Ahmadiyya Senior High School graduate was naturalised to play for Qatar in 2014 and made his debut in December that year in a friendly against Estonia.
Accusations of choosing money over Ghana
Muntari was accused of dumping his country of birth for the petrodollars of Qatar, claims he rubbished during a TV interview in Ghana early this year.
"It was never financial [switching to Qatar]. We play football firstly because we love football and we want to take care of the people we want to take care of," Muntari told TV3
Duhail."I wouldn’t say it was financially [motivated] because, at the end of the day, I could have been playing for Ghana and still be earning much."
When did he join Qatar?
Having naturalised for the Asian nation, Muntari made his maiden appearance on December 27, 2014, scoring on his debut against Estonia in a friendly match at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha.
He has since scored 12 more goals for his country in 48 caps making him one of the most experienced players in the World Cup debutants’ squad.
Getty ImagesHowever, most of his goals have come in friendly matches with only five from competitive games (three in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers and one each in the Concacaf Gold and Arab Cups).
What is the immediate assignment for Muntari?
With Qatar not involved in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers due to their status as hosts, it was difficult to gauge just how good and effective the 28-year-old is, but after failing to score when he came on as a substitute against Ecuador in their World Cup opener on Sunday, he was on the scoresheet in their second match against Senegal.
First goal for Qatar at 2022 World Cup
Muntari was not in the starting XI for a second starlight match with Almoez Ali, Qatar’s joint-record scorer with 42 goals, preferred upfront alongside Akram Afif against Senegal on Friday, but he came off the bench to give his adopted country some bit of history.
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GettyThe 28-year-old came on with 16 minutes remaining when Qatar were trailing 2-0 and headed in his country's first ever World Cup goal four minutes later, to reduce the arrears, but Senegal extended their lead six minutes to time to claim all three points.
