2024/25 Europa League review: How Ghanaian players fared on matchday one

The return of the UEFA Europa League action saw several Ghanaian stars take center stage, showcasing their skills and talent on the continental stage.

Despite varying outcomes, these players demonstrated their prowess, determination, and passion for the beautiful game.

3Sports assesses how some Ghanaians fared over the match day.

Abdul Baba Rahman (PAOK)

Abdul Baba Rahman’s long-awaited return to the Europa League group stage ended in disappointment as PAOK suffered a 3-1 defeat to Turkish giants Galatasaray.

The Ghanaian left-back’s highly anticipated comeback was marred by an unfortunate own goal, which handed Galatasaray the lead immediately after halftime.

Rahman’s own goal was an unlucky moment in an otherwise solid defensive display by the Ghanaian international.
Despite the setback of an own goal, Baba Rahman’s performance against Galatasaray demonstrated his resilience, adaptability, and potential to drive PAOK’s success in the Europa League.

After a challenging start on the road, Baba Rahman’s PAOK will seek redemption in their first Europa League home match against FC Steaua București.

Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao)

Inaki Williams and Athletic Bilbao secured a crucial point on the road in their first Europa League appearance since 2018, holding AS Roma to a 1-1 draw.

On Bilbao’s Europa League return after six years, Inaki Williams who captained the Spanish side demonstrated his ability to rally his team, securing a crucial draw in a difficult away match.

Inaki Williams’ electrifying pace, relentless pressing, and wing expertise tormented Roma’s defence, creating scoring opportunities and pushing the backline to its limits. The Bilbao captain finished the match with the most shots (4 shots) but none of them were on target.

Inaki Williams will aim to boost his Europa League goal tally to eight as Athletic Bilbao prepare to host Ibrahim Sadiq’s AZ Alkmaar in their next fixture.

Ibrahim Sadiq (Alkmaar)

In their clash against Elfsborg, Ibrahim Sadiq put up a decent performance in the first half, helping AZ Alkmaar to go into the break on level pegging.

Unfortunately, Sadiq picked up an injury in the 57th minute and had to be replaced by Jayden Addai.

Before the injury, Sadiq had been in excellent form, scoring four goals and providing three assists in six Eredivisie games. His performance against Elfsborg was expected to be a continuation of this form, but the injury disrupted his momentum.

AZ Alkmaar’s narrow 3-2 win over Elfsborg made Ibrahim Sadiq the first Ghanaian player to taste victory in the 2024/25 Europa League.

Following their triumphant UEFA Europa League (UEL) opener at home, AZ Alkmaar will be holding their breath hoping Ibrahim Sadiq’s injury is minor, as they desperately need his firepower for their daunting away clash against a resilient Athletic Bilbao side at San Mames.

Prince Adu Kwabena(Viktoria Plzen)

Viktoria Plzen’s new signing, Prince Adu Kwabena, made an instant impact on his Europa League group stage scoring in a pulsating 3-3 tie against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League.

Prince Adu Kwabena’s late strike (86′) breathed life into Viktoria Plzen’s Europa League tie against Eintracht Frankfurt. Trailing 2-0, scoring in the 86th minute sparked a spirited comeback, paving the way for a dramatic equaliser and a hard-fought 3-3 away draw.

Fresh from their thrilling 3-3 draw against 2022 Europa League champions Eintracht Frankfurt on the road , Prince Adu and Viktoria Plzen shift focus to their Europa League home opener against Ludogorets.

Majeed Ashimeru (Anderlecht)

Majeed Ashimeru played a crucial role in Anderlecht’s 2-1 victory over Ferencváros in their Europa League opener on Wednesday ,coming on as a substitute in the 69th minute for Samuel Edozie.

Ashimeru’s impactful substitute appearance secured Anderlecht’s 2-1 win, setting their Europa League journey off to a promising start.

Despite being a man down, Ashimeru’s relentless drive and clever positioning ensured Anderlecht maintained their advantage.

Anderlecht’s hard-fought win over Ferencváros provides a timely boost to their Europa League ambitions. As they gear up for a challenging trip to Spain, Majeed Ashimeru’s influential form will be vital in their upcoming clash against Real Sociedad.

Meanwhile, other notable Ghanaian players in the Europa League had mixed fortunes. Alexander Djiku (Fenerbahçe) and Baba Alhassan (FCSB) were unused substitutes. Bernard Tekpetey (Ludogorets) missed out due to injury, while Mohammed Fuseini was suspended. On a positive note, Ernest Nuamah impressed with 81 minutes of action in Lyon’s 2-0 triumph over Olympiacos.

By Rabbi Adu Agyei