Mohammed Muntari created history on Friday after scoring the first-ever World Cup goal for Qatar at the FIFA World Cup. Even as Qatar lost the match to Senegal 3-1, Muntari became the nation’s only World Cup goalscorer with his 78th-minute header that went past Edward Mendy and ended up in the Senegal goal.

“As you said, mixed feelings,” Muntari told BeIN Sports in a post-match interview. “It’s a privilege to score our first goal at the tournament but we ended up losing. This is our first time. It’s an experience and we will take the positives.”

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Who is Mohammed Muntari?

Muntari is a naturalised Qatari footballer who was born in Kumasi, Ghana on December 20, 1993. After starting his career at the Golden Lions Soccer Academy in Ghana, Muntari was recruited by the Aspire Academy in Qatar when he was still a teenager. 

He received his first call up for Qatar in December 2014 and played his first match in a friendly against Estonia on December 27, 2014. He managed to score a goal for Qatar in his debut match. 

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He was recruited by El Jaish, a Qatar top division club, in 2012 and he later signed a five-year deal with Lekhwiya in July 2015. He now plays for Al-Duhail as a striker and also represents Qatar. 

In Qatar’s first match against Ecuador, Muntari was brought on as a substitute. He came close to making an impact but could not do so as Qatar lost the game 2-1, becoming the first host nation to lose their first World Cup match. 

Muntari was also part of the Qatar squad that was crowned Asian champions in 2019.