Papa Babacar "Baba" Diawara (born 5 January 1988) is a Senegalese former professional footballer who played as a striker.
Born in Dakar, Diawara started his career with Senegal Premier League club ASC Jeanne d'Arc, moving to Europe aged just 19 to sign for C.S. MarÃÂtimo in Portugal due to his friendship with former footballer Paul Tisdale. Having risen to prominence in their reserves, he made his debut for the main squad late into the 2007âÂÂ08 season, appearing in the second half of a 1âÂÂ1 Primeira Liga home draw against C.F. Estrela da Amadora.
Promoted to the first team the following summer, Diawara scored ten goals in the 2008âÂÂ09 campaign from 25 league games. His form attracted the attention of several clubs, including Sporting CP, Olympiacos F.C. from Greece and Scotland's Heart of Midlothian, with the latter however being put off by MarÃÂtimo's ã2.5 million (â¬2.75 million) valuation of the player.
Diawara bettered his individual totals to 11 goals in 2010âÂÂ11, with MarÃÂtimo finishing in ninth position. Celtic came close to signing him in August 2011, but the deal collapsed on the last day of the transfer window due to visa issues.
Diawara netted ten goals in only 15 matches in the first half of the 2011âÂÂ12 season, including the last-minute winner at Sporting in a 3âÂÂ2 win.
Diawara signed with Sevilla FC on 17 January 2012, penning a -year contract. He made his La Liga debut on the 29th, coming on as a substitute for José Antonio Reyes late into the first half of a 2âÂÂ1 loss at Málaga CF. His first goal came on 3 March, starting the first time due to ÃÂlvaro Negredo's injury and equalising in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Atlético Madrid at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium.
On 17 April 2012, Diawara scored the opening goal in the new National Stadium in Warsaw, during a friendly with local Legia Warsaw, adding another in a 2âÂÂ0 win. He netted twice on 5 May as Sevilla won 5âÂÂ2 in their final home match of the season, against Rayo Vallecano. In the following campaign he did not find the net in the league, featuring mainly from the bench.
In July 2013, Diawara was one of three Sevilla players deemed surplus to requirements by coach Unai Emery. On 19 August, he was loaned to fellow Spaniards Levante UD for the duration of 2013âÂÂ14.
In February 2017, after one and a half seasons with former club MarÃÂtimo, Diawara joined Adelaide United FC in the Australian A-League. He scored three goals in only seven matches in his first season (five in all competitions), the first coming on 19 March in the 2âÂÂ1 home defeat of Brisbane Roar FC.
Diawara agreed to a new two-year deal on 11 May 2017.
In December 2019, Diawara signed a one-year contract with India's Mohun Bagan AC. He scored his first I-League goal for his new team the following 19 January, heading home from a corner kick in the 65th minute to help the hosts defeat East Bengal FC 2âÂÂ1.
Diawara joined Punjab FC of the same country and league on 1 February 2021. On his debut eight days later, he scored twice in a 2âÂÂ1 away victory over Indian Arrows.
Mohun Bagan