Ali Mohamed (footballer)
Ali Mohamed Al Faz is a Nigerien professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Israeli Premier League club Maccabi Haifa and the Niger national team.[1]
| Mohamed with Maccabi Haifa in 2022 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ali Mohamed Al Faz | ||
| Date of birth | 7 October 1995 | ||
| Place of birth | Niamey, Niger | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Maccabi Haifa | ||
| Number | 4 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| AS FAN | |||
| 2013–2014 | Bordeaux | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012–2013 | AS FAN | ||
| 2013–2014 | Bordeaux B | 0 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | AS FAN | ||
| 2015–2016 | Beitar Tel Aviv Ramla | 28 | (1) |
| 2016–2019 | Maccabi Netanya | 82 | (1) |
| 2019–2021 | Beitar Jerusalem | 65 | (3) |
| 2021– | Maccabi Haifa | 65 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2013– | Niger | 39 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17 May 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 November 2021 | |||
Club career edit
Early career edit
Mohamed started his career at AS FAN and made his debut in the senior team at the age of 17. In 2013, he joined the youth department of Bordeaux and practiced intermittently with the reserve team.[2]
In the summer of 2015, he signed with Beitar Tel Aviv Ramla; on 7 September, he made his debut for the club in a 4–1 loss to Bnei Lod. On 19 February 2016, he scored his first goal in a 3–2 victory against Bnei Lod.
On 6 July, Mohamed signed a contract with Maccabi Netanya. On 17 March 2017, he scored his first goal for the club in a 4–0 win against Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem. Mohamed finished the season with one goal and five assists.
On 22 January 2018, Mohamed signed a new contract at Maccabi Netanya until the end of the 2019–20 season. In the new contract, his release clause was set at $2.5 million.
Beitar Jerusalem edit
On 10 June 2019, Mohamed signed a three-year contract with Beitar Jerusalem for a fee of €1.7 million.[3] Upon his signing with the club, a sect of the club's fans named La Familia petitioned to have his Muslim-sounding name changed despite Mohamed being a Christian.[3][4]
In November, Mohamed was subjected to racist abuse from his own fans during an open training session.[4] The club's owner, Moshe Hogeg, came out in support of Mohamed, saying that the club would pursue legal action against La Familia and any of the club's fans that were found to have hurled racist abuse at the player.[4]
International career edit
On 6 September 2013, Mohamed made his debut for the Niger national football team in a 0–1 home loss against Burkina Faso, during the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF).[5]
Personal life edit
Although his name indicates his Muslim origin (his late father's faith), Mohamed claimed to be a devout Christian (his mother's faith).[4]
Mohamed also received a year-long Israeli residency status in August 2022.[6]
Honours edit
Maccabi Netanya
Beitar Jerusalem
Maccabi Haifa
References edit
- ^ Ali Mohamed at Soccerway. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ "Ali Mohamed". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ^ a b "Beitar Jerusalem: Fans of Israeli club want to 'change name' of new signing Ali Mohamed". The Independent. 12 June 2019. from the original on 2019-06-12. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Beitar Jerusalem: Soccer club owner ready to sue 'racist' fans". CNN. 5 December 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- ^ "Niger vs. Burkina Faso – 9 June 2013 – Soccerway".
- ^ https://sports.walla.co.il/item/3526394