Umar Eguavoen

Left Midfielder - Liberty Professionals
5 Sep 2029
Wednesday
Process

Marked for Umar Eguavoen

146 Edition

The Liberty Professionals Chronicle

14 May 2029
From our football correspondent Steady

Squad

Umar Eguavoen: that is not what I was promised

“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Liberty Professionals have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.

Squad

Tempers go at Liberty Professionals

Philip Amoh was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Squad

The manager makes an example of Khulekani Kubheka

“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.

Market

Liberty Professionals buy the years ahead of Lazarus Nkemdirim

He is 20, and the scouting reports agree on the only line that matters: the ceiling. Signings like this are lottery tickets written by professionals.

Market

The Amos Afful story refuses to die

It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Amos Afful signs something — a contract at Liberty Professionals or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.

Squad

Philip Amoh has company in his position

The competition arrived without a word said to him about it. Philip Amoh keeps the shirt for now, at Liberty Professionals's convenience rather than his own.

In brief

Back issues
132 Edition

The Liberty Professionals Chronicle

5 Feb 2029
From our football correspondent Steady

Match

12 unbeaten for Liberty Professionals

Hard to beat is not the same as winning, but 12 matches without defeat is a foundation Liberty Professionals did not have in the autumn.

Squad

Tempers go at Liberty Professionals

Philip Amoh was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Player ratings

Albert Djiku runs at them all day

Successful dribbles: 21. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.

Squad

No hiding place for Khulekani Kubheka

“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Khulekani Kubheka, and the manager let it.

Squad

Albert Nuhu left out for the big one

A player who expected to start watched it instead. The manager will call it a decision for the team; Albert Nuhu will call it something else in private.

Boardroom

$3.5M on the table at Liberty Professionals

The board have answered with money instead of encouragement, which is the only answer a manager ever wants. Spending it well is now entirely his problem.

Match

Liberty Professionals and Medeama take a point apiece

It finished 1‑1, and it somehow always looked like it would. One of those afternoons where the table moves less than the tempers.

Squad

Defences have started doubling up on Ernest Mensah

4 goals and a season average of 7.23 will do that. The space he used to find has gone; he keeps scoring anyway, which is the mark of the real thing.

Boardroom

$254.8K a year onto the Liberty Professionals books

A new partner, a signature and a photograph nobody will remember. It funds a fortnight of wages, which is more than most headlines on this page can say for themselves.

In brief

129 Edition

The Liberty Professionals Chronicle

15 Jan 2029
From our football correspondent Upbeat

Match

Whatever happens, Liberty Professionals do not lose

9 games unbeaten now. Some were earned and some were survived, but a habit is forming — and habits are the hardest thing in football to play against.

Squad

Sibusiso Tau says Liberty Professionals went back on their word

“I was told what my role would be, and I signed on that basis. It has not happened.” A grievance with a date attached is the hardest kind to settle.

Player ratings

Albert Djiku runs at them all day

Successful dribbles: 23. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.

Squad

Philip Amoh in a row with a teammate

It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Liberty Professionals this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

Squad

The manager makes an example of Wilfried Bilongo

“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.

Player ratings

A masterclass from Amos Afful

Marked 8.42 — the sort of number a correspondent writes down twice to be sure. Everything he tried came off, and what he did not try was not worth trying.

Match

Amos Afful rescues a point for Liberty Professionals

It needed Amos Afful to find the net to bring anything home at all: 1‑1 against Hasaacas, and half the dressing room will call it a point won.

Squad

Umar Eguavoen has had enough of the bench

“I did not come here to warm up in front of people.” He is out of contract eventually, he is old enough to count the weeks, and Liberty Professionals will have to give him a reason to stay or an exit.

Market

Philip Amoh linked with a move away

The name of Philip Amoh keeps appearing in other people's back pages. Liberty Professionals say nothing, which says plenty.

In brief

128 Edition

The Liberty Professionals Chronicle

8 Jan 2029
From our football correspondent Triumph

Player ratings

Albert Djiku runs at them all day

Successful dribbles: 25. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.

Match

Liberty Professionals make it 3 in a row

Momentum is a hard thing to buy and an easy thing to lose, and right now Liberty Professionals have 3 straight wins of it.

Market

As if he never left: Albert Nuhu returns

Some transfers need a press campaign. This one needed a shirt with the old number on it. Albert Nuhu is a Liberty Professionals player again, and the town has its story of the summer.

Squad

Tempers go at Liberty Professionals

Philip Amoh was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Player ratings

One of those days for Ernest Mensah

There is a version of this player everybody suspected was in there, and on this evidence it is. 9.18, and no argument anywhere in the ground.

Match

Liberty Professionals see off Heart of Lions

Three points for Liberty Professionals, 1‑0 the final word against Heart of Lions in a contest settled by the finer margins.

Squad

Liberty Professionals count the cost of losing Sibusiso Tau

36 days, the scan says, and scans are kinder than reality. The fixtures in that window have just become somebody else’s job.

Squad

No hiding place for Umar Eguavoen

“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Umar Eguavoen, and the manager let it.

Boardroom

$3.5M on the table at Liberty Professionals

The board have answered with money instead of encouragement, which is the only answer a manager ever wants. Spending it well is now entirely his problem.

In brief

124 Edition

The Liberty Professionals Chronicle

11 Dec 2028
From our football correspondent Upbeat

Player ratings

Ernest Mensah shuts the door

Defensive actions: 29, and a clean sheet at the end of it. A centre-half's best afternoons look like nothing happening, which is precisely the point.

Squad

Tempers go at Liberty Professionals

Philip Amoh was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Match

Liberty Professionals get the job done against Bechem United

A 1‑0 win over Bechem United, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.

Player ratings

A masterclass from Amos Afful

Marked 8.36 — the sort of number a correspondent writes down twice to be sure. Everything he tried came off, and what he did not try was not worth trying.

Squad

David Acquah stays put

“The easiest signature of my career.” David Acquah and Liberty Professionals agree another 3 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.

Player ratings

Philip Amoh runs at them all day

Successful dribbles: 17. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.

Squad

Umar Eguavoen gets it from the manager

“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.

Player ratings

A defender's afternoon for Daniel Kyereh

Defensive actions: 17. He was first to everything and second to nothing, and the goalkeeper had an easy day because of it.

Squad

Khulekani Kubheka knocks on the manager’s door

“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Khulekani Kubheka trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.

In brief

117 Edition

The Liberty Professionals Chronicle

23 Oct 2028
From our football correspondent Crisis

Player ratings

Albert Djiku runs at them all day

Successful dribbles: 26. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.

Squad

Philip Amoh in a row with a teammate

It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Liberty Professionals this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

Match

Amos Afful’s goal not enough for Liberty Professionals

Amos Afful scored, and precious little else went right: 1‑2 to Medeama, and a quiet walk to the dressing room.

Squad

No hiding place for Philip Amoh

“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Philip Amoh, and the manager let it.

Market

Philip Amoh linked with a move away

The name of Philip Amoh keeps appearing in other people's back pages. Liberty Professionals say nothing, which says plenty.

Squad

Umar Eguavoen knocks on the manager's door

“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Liberty Professionals, and both men came out saying it was fine.

In brief

115 Edition

The Liberty Professionals Chronicle

9 Oct 2028
From our football correspondent Steady

Match

The cup run ends for Liberty Professionals

0‑1 against Great Olympics, and the road stops here. Cup exits are quick deaths — no second leg, no next week, just the league from now until May.

Squad

Philip Amoh in a row with a teammate

It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Liberty Professionals this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

Player ratings

A defender's afternoon for Daniel Kyereh

Defensive actions: 22. He was first to everything and second to nothing, and the goalkeeper had an easy day because of it.

Player ratings

One of those days for Ernest Mensah

There is a version of this player everybody suspected was in there, and on this evidence it is. 9.02, and no argument anywhere in the ground.

Player ratings

Sibusiso Tau runs at them all day

Successful dribbles: 19. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.

Match

Ernest Mensah sends Liberty Professionals past Hearts of Oak

It finished 1‑0, and it was Ernest Mensah’s afternoon: on the scoresheet when it mattered, and the reason the points belong to Liberty Professionals.

Squad

No hiding place for Umar Eguavoen

“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Umar Eguavoen, and the manager let it.

Squad

Ernest Mensah is off the mark for Liberty Professionals

The first one is the one every signing is asked about until it arrives. It has arrived, and he can stop being asked.

Market

The Ernest Mensah question follows Liberty Professionals around

Every press conference now starts and ends the same way: with Ernest Mensah’s future. The manager has run out of new ways to say nothing.

In brief

112 Edition

The Liberty Professionals Chronicle

18 Sep 2028
From our football correspondent Steady

Squad

Tempers go at Liberty Professionals

Philip Amoh was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Player ratings

Nobody could get near Albert Djiku

Successful dribbles: 20. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.

Match

Amos Afful sends Liberty Professionals past Berekum Chelsea

It finished 2‑1, and it was Amos Afful’s afternoon: on the scoresheet when it mattered, and the reason the points belong to Liberty Professionals.

Squad

No hiding place for Khulekani Kubheka

“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Khulekani Kubheka, and the manager let it.

Player ratings

Amos Afful in the eights

A performance of 8.44 does not come along often, and when it does the rest of the team becomes scenery. He was magnificent.

Squad

“I want to play”: Umar Eguavoen speaks

“I respect the manager and I am not going to sit here and pretend I am happy.” It is the most common sentence in football and it has never once been the end of a story.

Squad

Adama Deme knocks on the manager’s door

“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Adama Deme trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.

Market

The Amos Afful talk will not go away

Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Liberty Professionals know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.

Player ratings

Adama Deme changes it off the bench

He was not in the side at half past three and he had settled it before five. Half an hour, and Liberty Professionals had a different afternoon.

In brief

110 Edition

The Liberty Professionals Chronicle

4 Sep 2028
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Squad

Khulekani Kubheka keeps Liberty Professionals in it on his own

Some afternoons a goalkeeper is the team. 6 saves, several of them the sort nobody expects to see stopped, and a scoreline that flatters everybody in front of him.

Market

Harrison Mohammed comes home

The shirt still fits. Harrison Mohammed is back at Liberty Professionals, and half the ground remembers him in these colours already. Some signings need selling to the town; this one sold itself.

Market

Edmund Afful comes home

The shirt still fits. Edmund Afful is back at Liberty Professionals, and half the ground remembers him in these colours already. Some signings need selling to the town; this one sold itself.

Market

Ernest Owusu is a Liberty Professionals player again

He left as a boy and has come back still knowing where the away end is. Most signings have to be explained to a town; this one needed a photograph and nothing else.

Market

As if he never left: Kwame Paintsil returns

Some transfers need a press campaign. This one needed a shirt with the old number on it. Kwame Paintsil is a Liberty Professionals player again, and the town has its story of the summer.

Squad

Philip Amoh in a row with a teammate

It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Liberty Professionals this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

Player ratings

A defender's afternoon for Daniel Kyereh

Defensive actions: 20. He was first to everything and second to nothing, and the goalkeeper had an easy day because of it.

Match

Adama Deme the difference as Liberty Professionals beat Inter Allies

Ask anyone on the way out what separated the sides and you will get one name: Adama Deme. 1‑0 against Inter Allies, and the applause at the whistle was mostly his.

Player ratings

Nobody could get near Albert Djiku

Successful dribbles: 18. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.

In brief

106 Edition

The Liberty Professionals Chronicle

7 Aug 2028
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Squad

Albert Djiku signs on for more

“Some decisions take a long time. This one took ten minutes, and most of that was finding a pen.” Albert Djiku and Liberty Professionals agree another 3 years.

Squad

Philip Amoh in a row with a teammate

It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Liberty Professionals this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

Squad

No hiding place for Umar Eguavoen

“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Umar Eguavoen, and the manager let it.

In brief

105 Edition

The Liberty Professionals Chronicle

31 Jul 2028
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Market

The unthinkable, invoiced: David Waris sold

Portland Timbers arrived with $2.3M and left with the best player in the building. The board will call it business; the queue at the ticket office will use other words.

Squad

Tempers go at Liberty Professionals

Philip Amoh was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Squad

No hiding place for Hady Amer

“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Hady Amer, and the manager let it.

In brief

102 Edition

The Liberty Professionals Chronicle

10 Jul 2028
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Market

Liberty Professionals break the bank for Yaw Djiku

$670.0K. No player has ever cost Liberty Professionals more, and expectation arrives with him.

Squad

Philip Amoh in a row with a teammate

It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Liberty Professionals this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

Squad

The manager makes an example of Umar Eguavoen

“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.

In brief

98 Edition

The Liberty Professionals Chronicle

12 Jun 2028
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Squad

Philip Amoh in a row with a teammate

It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Liberty Professionals this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

Squad

Umar Eguavoen gets it from the manager

“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.

Squad

Amos Afful knocks on the manager's door

“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Liberty Professionals, and both men came out saying it was fine.

In brief

97 Edition

The Liberty Professionals Chronicle

5 Jun 2028
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Squad

Tempers go at Liberty Professionals

Philip Amoh was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Squad

Christian Annan gets it from the manager

“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.

Market

Felix Amoah is free to find somewhere else

“I was told straight, and I would rather have it straight.” The manager at Liberty Professionals has been clear about where Felix Amoah stands, which is more than many ever get.

In brief

96 Edition

The Liberty Professionals Chronicle

29 May 2028
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Squad

Brian Fatari keeps the receipts

“I remember the meeting. I remember exactly what was promised in it.” Liberty Professionals may remember it differently, which is precisely the problem.

Squad

Philip Amoh in a row with a teammate

It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Liberty Professionals this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

Squad

Abeiku Wakaso gets it from the manager

“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.

In brief

94 Edition

The Liberty Professionals Chronicle

15 May 2028
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Market

Jeffrey Ayew hands in a written request

“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Liberty Professionals can pretend not to have heard.

Squad

Philip Amoh in a row with a teammate

It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Liberty Professionals this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

Squad

The manager makes an example of Umar Eguavoen

“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.

In brief

92 Edition

The Liberty Professionals Chronicle

1 May 2028
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Squad

Christian Annan keeps the receipts

“I remember the meeting. I remember exactly what was promised in it.” Liberty Professionals may remember it differently, which is precisely the problem.

Squad

Philip Amoh in a row with a teammate

It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Liberty Professionals this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

Squad

The manager makes an example of Albert Djiku

“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.

In brief

90 Edition

The Liberty Professionals Chronicle

17 Apr 2028
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Market

Jeffrey Ayew asks to leave Liberty Professionals

“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.

Squad

Hady Amer keeps the receipts

“I remember the meeting. I remember exactly what was promised in it.” Liberty Professionals may remember it differently, which is precisely the problem.

Squad

Philip Amoh in a row with a teammate

It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Liberty Professionals this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

In brief

89 Edition

The Liberty Professionals Chronicle

10 Apr 2028
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Squad

Sibusiso Tau keeps the receipts

“I remember the meeting. I remember exactly what was promised in it.” Liberty Professionals may remember it differently, which is precisely the problem.

Squad

Tempers go at Liberty Professionals

Philip Amoh was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Squad

No hiding place for Brian Fatari

“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Brian Fatari, and the manager let it.

In brief

85 Edition

The Liberty Professionals Chronicle

13 Mar 2028
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Player ratings

Nobody could get near Albert Djiku

Successful dribbles: 29. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.

Squad

Albert Nuhu says Liberty Professionals went back on their word

“I was told what my role would be, and I signed on that basis. It has not happened.” A grievance with a date attached is the hardest kind to settle.

Match

No end in sight to Liberty Professionals's wait for a win

4 matches now without a victory, and the excuses have worn thinner than the patience. Somebody at Liberty Professionals has to find a result from somewhere.

Squad

Tempers go at Liberty Professionals

Philip Amoh was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Player ratings

David Waris shuts the door

Defensive actions: 19, and a clean sheet at the end of it. A centre-half's best afternoons look like nothing happening, which is precisely the point.

Squad

Umar Eguavoen gets it from the manager

“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.

In brief

80 Edition

The Liberty Professionals Chronicle

7 Feb 2028
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Match

No end in sight to Liberty Professionals's wait for a win

9 matches now without a victory, and the excuses have worn thinner than the patience. Somebody at Liberty Professionals has to find a result from somewhere.

Player ratings

Nobody could get near Albert Djiku

Successful dribbles: 32. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.

Market

Patrick Acquah puts it in writing

“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Liberty Professionals, and it is not being withdrawn.

Squad

Philip Amoh in a row with a teammate

It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Liberty Professionals this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

Squad

No hiding place for Patrick Acquah

“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Patrick Acquah, and the manager let it.

Player ratings

A masterclass from Amos Afful

Marked 8.25 — the sort of number a correspondent writes down twice to be sure. Everything he tried came off, and what he did not try was not worth trying.

Squad

Adama Deme signs on for more

“Some decisions take a long time. This one took ten minutes, and most of that was finding a pen.” Adama Deme and Liberty Professionals agree another 4 years.

Market

Liberty Professionals buy the years ahead of Umar Eguavoen

He is 18, and the scouting reports agree on the only line that matters: the ceiling. Signings like this are lottery tickets written by professionals.

Match

Liberty Professionals share the spoils with Medeama

A 1‑1 draw with Medeama leaves the dressing room somewhere between relief and regret.

In brief

77 Edition

The Kwara United Sentinel

17 Jan 2028
From our football correspondent Steady

Player ratings

A defender's afternoon for Somtochuwku Ezenabo

Defensive actions: 30. He was first to everything and second to nothing, and the goalkeeper had an easy day because of it.

Squad

Chisom Ngomere: that is not what I was promised

“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Kwara United have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.

Match

Still nobody has beaten Kwara United

The unbeaten run reaches 6. Some of them were wins and some were escapes, but a side that refuses to lose is a side other dressing rooms talk about.

Squad

No hiding place for Bolu Sholumade

“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Bolu Sholumade, and the manager let it.

Match

Kwara United find a way past Wikki Tourists

Wikki Tourists made Kwara United work for it, but the scoreboard read 1‑0 at the end and the table does not ask how.

Squad

Kwara United count the cost of losing Moses Nyebe

16 days, the scan says, and scans are kinder than reality. The fixtures in that window have just become somebody else’s job.

Player ratings

One of those days for Babatunde Bright

There is a version of this player everybody suspected was in there, and on this evidence it is. 8.18, and no argument anywhere in the ground.

Squad

Tempers go at Kwara United

Muhammed Alao was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Player ratings

Nobody could get near Muhammed Alao

Successful dribbles: 12. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.

In brief