Francis Doe
Encyclopedia
Francis Doe is a Liberia
n footballer currently playing for the Egyptian Premier League
Telephonat Bani Sweif
.
. Doe was voted best foreign player and third best overall player (as voted on by the Cameroon Football Federation and the Cameroon Sports Writers Association), and in doing so became the second Liberian player to win the Cameroonian First Division foreign player of the year award, the first being former world footballer of the year George Weah
who received the award more than a decade ago. That same year Doe led the club to the CAF Cup
final, netting six goals in eight CAF Cup matches.
In summer 2003, Doe moved back to Ghanaian side Buduburam FC. He then moved again in 2004 and signed a contract with USL First Division
side Minnesota Thunder
. His contract with Minnesota included an opt out clause which Doe utilized when he started receiving interest from European clubs. Having drawn interest from many clubs including Walsall FC in England, as well as Boca Juniors
in Argentina, Doe agreed to a two-year deal with Greek club Atromitos
and was regularly transferred from Buduburam FC, with whom he tallied six goals in twenty league matches in his first season at the club.
In March 2007, Doe and Atromitos
mutually agreed to end the contract between them. Doe later had a brief spell in the Major League Soccer
on trial with FC Dallas
, who were unable to secure his services due to league restrictions on the number of foreign players in one club. He then went on another trial with New York Red Bulls, eventually securing a contract with the club. On September 22, 2007, in his second start for the Red Bulls, Doe scored his first MLS goal and made an assist in a 2–2 draw versus the New England Revolution
. Doe was a key contributor for the club after his late season acquisition. In 8 league matches, 4 of them coming from the bench, Doe managed to record two goals and one assist, and helped the club qualify for the MLS playoffs. Doe started the clubs first playoff game against the New England Revolution, logging 68 minutes in a scoreless affair. He was unable to participate in the second leg due to injury. He was waived by the team on February 21, 2008.
Doe signed with D.C. United
after a short trial in April, 2008. Since his arrival, Doe has scored in every competition for United, including both goals in the club's 2–1 league win over the New England Revolution
on October 16, 2008. Doe was waived by D.C. United on April 24, 2009, to make room on the roster for new signing Avery John
.
In summer 2009, Doe was approached by African Club of the Century Al-Ahly
, who thought of him as an ideal replacement for their recently departed top goalscorer Flavio Amado
. After only one week of negotiations Doe decided to try his luck in a second spell in home Africa and signed to the Egyptian Premier League
on July 14, 2009, on a free transfer. He has featured for Al-Ahly
in Wembley Cup
friendly tournament, playing against Celtic FC and Barcelona FC. Doe scored his first goal with Al-Ahly on His debut against Ghazl El-Mehalla on August 6, 2009 to secure Al Ahly's 2–0 win in the opening match of the season.
matches, as well as the qualifying competition for the 2008 African Cup of Nations
. Doe scored two goals during Liberia's 2008 ACN qualifying campaign, opening the scoring in a 3–2 victory over Rwanda
on October 8, 2006, and scoring Liberia's lone goal in their 3–1 loss to Cameroon
on March 28, 2007.
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
n footballer currently playing for the Egyptian Premier League
Egyptian Premier League
The Egyptian Premier League is an Egyptian professional league for football clubs and represents the top flight of Egyptian football. The championship consists of nineteen competing teams in a home and away league system. It is currently known as the Etisalat Egyptian Premier League, after the...
Telephonat Bani Sweif
Telephonat Bani Sweif
Telephonat Bani Sweif is a football club of an Egyptian Communication Company from the city of Beni Suef...
.
Club career
Doe is very good with his team mate and even his local manager,Doe began his career in the Cameroon Première Division in 2002, playing for Tonnerre YaoundéTonnerre Yaoundé
Tonnerre Kalara Club of Yaoundé are a football club based in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The club was most prominent during the 1980s, winning all of their 5 national championship during the decade. They have also won the national cup 5 times...
. Doe was voted best foreign player and third best overall player (as voted on by the Cameroon Football Federation and the Cameroon Sports Writers Association), and in doing so became the second Liberian player to win the Cameroonian First Division foreign player of the year award, the first being former world footballer of the year George Weah
George Weah
George Tawlon Manneh Oppong Ousman Weah is a Liberian humanitarian and politician, and an ex-footballer. He ran unsuccessfully for president in the 2005 election, losing to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in the second round of voting...
who received the award more than a decade ago. That same year Doe led the club to the CAF Cup
CAF Cup
The CAF Cup was an annual competition organised by the CAF for domestic leagues runner-ups of member associations who haven't qualified to one of the two pre-existing CAF international club competitions the African Cup of Champions Clubs or the African Cup Winners' Cup.-Format:Only runner-ups of...
final, netting six goals in eight CAF Cup matches.
In summer 2003, Doe moved back to Ghanaian side Buduburam FC. He then moved again in 2004 and signed a contract with USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
side Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder was an American professional soccer team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1990, the team played in the USL First Division , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009. The team played its home games at the National Sports Center in nearby...
. His contract with Minnesota included an opt out clause which Doe utilized when he started receiving interest from European clubs. Having drawn interest from many clubs including Walsall FC in England, as well as Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
in Argentina, Doe agreed to a two-year deal with Greek club Atromitos
Atromitos
Atromitos FC is a football club based in Peristeri, Athens that plays in the Super League Greece.-History:Atromitos FC was officially founded in May 1923 when Kalomvounis, Petos, Glykofridis, Stathopoulos, Synodinos, Rigopoulos, Stamatopoulos, and other students living in Victoria Square decided...
and was regularly transferred from Buduburam FC, with whom he tallied six goals in twenty league matches in his first season at the club.
In March 2007, Doe and Atromitos
Atromitos
Atromitos FC is a football club based in Peristeri, Athens that plays in the Super League Greece.-History:Atromitos FC was officially founded in May 1923 when Kalomvounis, Petos, Glykofridis, Stathopoulos, Synodinos, Rigopoulos, Stamatopoulos, and other students living in Victoria Square decided...
mutually agreed to end the contract between them. Doe later had a brief spell in the Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
on trial with FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
, who were unable to secure his services due to league restrictions on the number of foreign players in one club. He then went on another trial with New York Red Bulls, eventually securing a contract with the club. On September 22, 2007, in his second start for the Red Bulls, Doe scored his first MLS goal and made an assist in a 2–2 draw versus the New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
. Doe was a key contributor for the club after his late season acquisition. In 8 league matches, 4 of them coming from the bench, Doe managed to record two goals and one assist, and helped the club qualify for the MLS playoffs. Doe started the clubs first playoff game against the New England Revolution, logging 68 minutes in a scoreless affair. He was unable to participate in the second leg due to injury. He was waived by the team on February 21, 2008.
Doe signed with D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
after a short trial in April, 2008. Since his arrival, Doe has scored in every competition for United, including both goals in the club's 2–1 league win over the New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
on October 16, 2008. Doe was waived by D.C. United on April 24, 2009, to make room on the roster for new signing Avery John
Avery John
Avery John is a Trinidadian soccer player.-Youth and College:John attended Vessigny [Antilles] Government Secondary School and then Presentation College, and played college soccer for Yavapai College in Arizona and American University in Washington, DC...
.
In summer 2009, Doe was approached by African Club of the Century Al-Ahly
Al-Ahly
Al-Ahly Sports Club , commonly known as simply Al-Ahly, is an Egyptian sporting club. Founded in April 1907, Al-Ahly was named in 2000 by the Confederation of African Football as the "African Club of the Century"...
, who thought of him as an ideal replacement for their recently departed top goalscorer Flavio Amado
Flávio Amado
Flávio da Silva Amado , better known as Flávio, is an Angolan football forward who most recently played for Lierse S.K in Belgium....
. After only one week of negotiations Doe decided to try his luck in a second spell in home Africa and signed to the Egyptian Premier League
Egyptian Premier League
The Egyptian Premier League is an Egyptian professional league for football clubs and represents the top flight of Egyptian football. The championship consists of nineteen competing teams in a home and away league system. It is currently known as the Etisalat Egyptian Premier League, after the...
on July 14, 2009, on a free transfer. He has featured for Al-Ahly
Al-Ahly
Al-Ahly Sports Club , commonly known as simply Al-Ahly, is an Egyptian sporting club. Founded in April 1907, Al-Ahly was named in 2000 by the Confederation of African Football as the "African Club of the Century"...
in Wembley Cup
Wembley Cup
The Wembley Cup is an invitational football tournament. The first edition of the tournament took place between 24 and 26 July 2009 at Wembley Stadium, London, United Kingdom. The winning team was Celtic, ahead of FC Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur, and Al-Ahly. Each team played two matches, with...
friendly tournament, playing against Celtic FC and Barcelona FC. Doe scored his first goal with Al-Ahly on His debut against Ghazl El-Mehalla on August 6, 2009 to secure Al Ahly's 2–0 win in the opening match of the season.
International
Doe has represented Liberia in 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
A total of 197 teams entered the qualification process for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, competing for a total of 32 spots in the final tournament. Germany, as the host, qualified automatically, leaving 31 spots open for competition...
matches, as well as the qualifying competition for the 2008 African Cup of Nations
2008 African Cup of Nations
The 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, also known as the MTN Africa Cup of Nations due to the competition's sponsorship by MTN, was the 26th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the biennial football tournament for nations affiliated to the Confederation of African Football . The tournament was staged at...
. Doe scored two goals during Liberia's 2008 ACN qualifying campaign, opening the scoring in a 3–2 victory over Rwanda
Rwanda national football team
The Rwanda national football team, nicknamed Amavubi , is the national team of Rwanda and is controlled by the Fédération Rwandaise de Football Amateur...
on October 8, 2006, and scoring Liberia's lone goal in their 3–1 loss to Cameroon
Cameroon national football team
The Cameroon national football team, nicknamed Les Lions Indomptables , is controlled by the Fédération Camerounaise de Football and is Africa's most successful side in FIFA world cup; having qualified for the FIFA World Cup six times – in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010– more than any...
on March 28, 2007.