Former Ghana Star Abubakar Dies At The Age Of - 36

Posted by betensured02 on May 1st, 2018

Ghanaian football has been rocked by the death of former international Yakubu Abubakar at the age of 36.

The former Black Star, a defensive midfielder, died in a hospital in the southern Ghanaian city Tema on Tuesday.

“We’re sad to hear the death of former Ghana, Ajax and Vitesse midfielder Abubakar,” tweeted Ghana’s FA. “Our thoughts are with his family. May his soul RIP.”

No reason has been given for the death of Abubakar, who won 16 caps for Ghana.

Abubakar started every game as the Black Stars exited in the group stage of the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations and played in the qualifiers as Ghana reached their first World Cup – also in 2006.

However, he was overlooked for the final squad for the tournament in Germany.

At club level, Abubakar – who could also play in defence – left Ghana at the age of 17 to join former European champions Ajax Amsterdam.

He won two league championships, in 2002 and 2004, as well as the 2002 Dutch Cup.

In the 2002-03 season, he played five times in the European Champions League as Ajax reached the quarter-finals before bowing out against eventual winners Milan.

After 89 appearances for Ajax, Abubakar joined another Dutch side, Vitesse Arnhem, in 2004, staying with the club for five years.

Abubakar played for Ghana at every level, having represented his nation at Under-17, Under-20 and Under-23 level as well.

Marseille suspend Patrice Evra after kicking fan during warm-up

Marseille have suspended Patrice Evra after he kicked a fan in the head before his side’s Europa League defeat at Vitoria Guimaraes on Thursday.

Footage showed the 36-year-old former Manchester United defender aiming an acrobatic kick at a supporter at the side of the pitch during the warm-up.

Evra will be interviewed before any disciplinary action is decided.

A Marseille statement also condemned the “unacceptable behaviour” by a “handful of provocateurs”.

European football’s governing body Uefa charged France international Evra with violent conduct earlier on Friday, with the full-back suspended for “at least one game”.

French newspaper L’Equipe reported that Marseille supporters had been jeering Evra for about half an hour while the players prepared for the game, which the Ligue 1 side lost 1-0.

The player had gone over to the fans to talk to them – but the situation escalated.

Evra, who was named as a substitute, was dismissed before kick-off, and Marseille began the game with 11 players.

“As a professional and experienced player, Patrice Evra could not respond in such an inappropriate way,” the statement added.

“In addition, the first results of the internal investigation conducted by the club reveal unacceptable behaviour on the part of a handful of provocateurs who uttered particularly serious hateful attacks against the player, even though the latter and his team-mates warmed up for an important game.”

His former Manchester United team-mate, Mikael Silvestre, told BBC Sport that Evra had “no future” at Marseille, but that the incident would not be the end of his career.