Ghana Black Stars defender Mohammed Salisu experienced the lows and the highs in AS Monaco’s UEFA Champions League game against Cypriot side Pafos.

The Ghanaian international picked up the Man of the Match Award after delivering an impressive performance in the French club’s 2-2 draw with Pafos. However, Monaco missed out on what would have been a deserved win after Salisu scored an own goal in the 88th minute.

A header late in the game from Pafos substitute Mons Bassouamina hit the frame of the goal with the ball coming off Salisu and inadvertently into the net to deny Monaco the win.

Despite scoring an own goal, the former Southampton defender was named as winner of the Man of the Match Award after winning nine of 10 aerial duels, blocking two shots and getting dribbled past just once in the game.

Mo Salisu receives Man of the Match Award in Monaco’s 2-2 draw with Pafos in UEFA Champions League Photo Courtesy: AS Monaco

He completed 54 of 59 passes in the game while touching the ball 76 times. Salisu’s performance against Pafos have allayed concerns over his health after missing Ghana’s friendly games against Japan and South Korea to injury.

Line-up of Monaco during the UEFA Champions League match between Pafos and Monaco (Photo by Auri Sonea/Icon Sport via Getty Images)

Salisu is in line to play for Ghana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup; he featured for the Black Stars at the 2022 World Cup.