UEFA Champions League: Adama Traoré, the Malian who draws at Sheriff Tiraspol
Adama Traoré (g) and Momo Yansané in the Champions League against Shakhtar Donetsk, 15 AFP - SERGEI GAPON
Text by: Farid Achache Follow
4 min
Sheriff Tiraspol receives Real Madrid on Wednesday 24 November.
For their first appearance in the group stage of the Champions League, the Moldovan club have made a strong impression since entering the running after shining in the preliminary rounds.
And the club owes it in large part to Malian Adama Traoré, scorer on six occasions.
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Discreet in Lorraine, brilliant in Moldavia.
Sometimes you just need to be patient to see the wheel turn in your favor.
Born in Bamako, Adama Traoré rose to fame on his continent at TP Mazembe.
With the prestigious Congolese club, he won his most beautiful trophies: a CAF Champions League, two Confederation Cups and a CAF Super Cup.
Three times champion of DR Congo, he will leave the Ravens in 2018.
Arrived on European soil, the Malian arrives at FC Metz.
In eastern France, his career is slipping.
Adama Traoré will only play 4 matches before being loaned to US Orléans and Al-Adalah FC in Saudi Arabia by the Lorraine club.
The time for change is imperative.
Left foot, right foot and head
Adama Traore arrives in Moldova in February 2021. At Sheriff Tiraspol, the 26-year-old will become the club's first goalscorer in the Champions League group stage.
His goal against Shaktar Donetsk on Matchday 1 of the group stage is the fifth in a campaign started in the preliminary rounds.
Adama Traoré and his teammates successively took out the Armenians of Alashkert, the Red Star of Belgrade and Dinamo Zagreb.
Here he is even decisive passer on the goal of the historic success of Sheriff Tiraspol in Spain against Real Madrid (1-2) during the second day.
The Malian meets Carlo Ancelotti's men on the fifth day on Wednesday November 24.
His sixth goal in C1, Adama Traoré scored on the fourth day against Inter Milan at the very end of the game (90th + 2), the Moldovan club lost 3-1.
Since the start of the campaign, he has scored from the left, the right and the header.
"
I'm not surprised that he is finally blazing,
" Hubert Velud told Football365 Africa
, who coached him in 2015-2016 at TP Mazembe. He had enormous potential. Power, speed, precise left foot, he is a very complete player, who brings a lot of percussion, a player that all coaches dream of having
”. And to add: "
I was a little surprised that he did not make his hole in France, but I have my little idea about it.
He is someone who must be well surrounded.
You have to know the manager, he's sensitive.
He is also a very introverted person.
If in Metz he was a little isolated, it could have affected him.
At TP Mazembe, we had another Malian international, Salif Coulibaly, who was incubating him.
It really helped him, and besides when Salif wasn't there, Adama was less comfortable
.
"
"
It destabilizes the defenses
"
“
He's a good player, very professional. Sometimes it is difficult to adapt and the Metz club have not succeeded for him. But he has talent. Moldova made him grow up and he has progressed a lot. He has a very good left foot, he is lively, he makes deep calls, he destabilizes the defenses,
”Guinean striker Momo Yansané told RFI about his teammate. And to admit: “
We are very united between us. We hang on to succeed. In football you always have to give to your neighbor. We make the most of it and we still dream of the round of 16. There are a lot of players who play in Europe who don't have the chance to play in the Champions League. I hope that the work done will pay off
. "
With the first club in the Moldovan league to participate in the group stage of the Champions League, Adama Traoré could continue to surprise.
Wednesday night at home, by hosting Real Madrid, the Malian international will have only one desire, to prove that he has his place in the big leagues.
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