Bernard Mensah rolled back the years with a commanding display on Saturday night, inspiring Al Nasr to a 2-0 away win over Al Ain in the second leg of the UAE League Cup semi-final, even though the victory proved insufficient to keep his side in the competition.
The former Ghana international was at the heart of everything positive for Al Nasr, opening the scoring inside five minutes at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium. Latching onto a well-weighted pass from Abdoulaye Touré, Mensah struck early to give the visitors belief and set the tone for an energetic performance.
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Al Nasr maintained their intensity after the break and were rewarded in the 65th minute when Argentine striker Ramón Miérez doubled the advantage, putting the result beyond doubt on the night.
However, the damage had already been done in the first leg. Al Ain’s emphatic 3-0 victory in the reverse fixture ultimately sealed their passage to the final, eliminating Mensah and his teammates despite their spirited response.
The former Atlético Madrid, Beşiktaş and Kayserispor midfielder was withdrawn late on, making way in the 82nd minute for Senegalese defender Moussa N’Diaye, bringing an end to an influential evening from the Ghanaian.
Since joining Al Nasr in August 2025, Mensah has steadily grown into a key figure within the squad. He has now featured ten times across all competitions, with Saturday’s strike marking his first goal for the club. The 30-year-old signed a two-year contract that will keep him in the UAE until the summer of 2027.
On the international stage, Mensah earned his first cap for Ghana’s Black Stars in 2015. He went on to make four appearances, scoring once, before later stepping away from international football.
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While Al Nasr’s cup journey has come to an end, Mensah’s performance served as a timely reminder of his quality and influence at the highest level.
