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24 September 2018
Loba, Dakoi, Kouyaté : from Maurice Revello Tournament to Peruvian First Division !
The Ivorian players Aboubacar Kouyaté, Koffi Dakoi and Aké Loba, aged between 19 and 20, have all a thing in common : few months after helping Ivory Coast to reach the Maurice Revello Tournament 2017 final, the trio signed for Universidad San Martin de Porres, in Peru. A surprising but a winning choice so far.
10th June 2017, Stade de Lattre, Aubagne : Ivory Coast lost against England in the Maurice Revello Tournament 2017 final after a thrilling final (1-1, 3-5 pen). Aboubacar Kouyaté, Koffi Dakoi and Aké Loba started the game and Loba was the one who netted the equalizer for his side.
Thanks to the Elephanteaux’s fantastic run, the three players attracted the interest from several teams to the point that they have been signed by the same club few months later. And the Ivorian youngsters have opted for an exotic destination : South America. More precisely, Callao, hometown of… the Peruvian side Universidad San Martin de Porres ! At 8000 kilometers from Abidjan, the capital of Ivory Coast.
This destination can be surprising at first sight but when we take a close look at the situation, the three players have good reasons to play in Peru : a guarantee to play regularly in the Peruvian top flight combined with the opportunity to attract the interest from the biggest clubs around here.
This is already the case for Koffi Dakoi and Aké Loba whose performances are monitored closely by the Mexican giants Tigres UANL. And for good reason : Dakoi is already under contract with the Liga MX side and has been loaned out to Universidad San Martin to continue his development. Meanwhile, Tigres have a preferential option to buy Loba meaning the Monterrey-based club could match any offer made to Universidad San Martin for the 20-year-old striker. And this scenario seems possible when we take a look at the performances made by Loba.
Like his teammate Dakoi (24 games, 1 goal), Lota has adapted quickly to his new life and made a name for himself in Peru by scoring 17 goals in 29 Primera Division games.
This match between Ivorian talents and a Peruvian club can turn out to be perfect both sides. The players continue their development week after week for the enjoyment of the Universidad San Martin fans who are dreaming about a return on the continental scene, six years after the last appearance of the team in the Copa Sudamericana.
Amayes Brahmi
Crédits Photo : Universidad de San Martin de Porres
