Yahia Fofana #1

Profile

“In my all-time African XI, I’d have Yahia Fofana in goal” – those are the words of Fofana’s Côte d’Ivoire head coach, Emerse Faé. It’s a superlative that demonstrates the faith that Faé has in Fofana after just three years working together. The goalkeeper arrived in the international set-up in 2023 and is a product of the Le Havre academy. He was named player of the season at Angers in 2024-25 before moving to Turkey. For Ivorians, his penalty save against Mali in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which Côte d’Ivoire won on home soil, is his finest moment. Quick reflexes are the greatest strength of their first-choice goalkeeper.

Key stats