Ismaël Béko Fofana

Béko Fofana
Personal information
Full nameIsmaël Béko Fofana
Date of birth8 September 1988
Place of birthAbidjan, Ivory Coast
Height1.82 m (5 ft 11 12 in)
Playing positionStriker
Club information
Current team
Qingdao Jonoon (on loan from Partizan)
Number10
Youth career
Académie MimoSifcom
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2005–2006ASEC Mimosas-(-)
2006–2010Charlton Athletic0(0)
2007–2008Fredrikstad (loan)24(1)
2008–2009Cherbourg (loan)1(0)
2009–2010Saint-Lô (loan)-(-)
2010–2011Séwé Sport-(-)
2012–2013Shirak31(15)
2012–2013Zob Ahan (loan)14(1)
2013–Partizan15(6)
2015–Qingdao Jonoon (loan)4(0)
National team
Ivory Coast U17
Ivory Coast U20
Ivory Coast U23
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 January 2015.
† Appearances (Goals).

Ismaël Béko Fofana (born 8 September 1988) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Qingdao Jonoon, on loan from Partizan. He represented his country at all youth international levels from Under-17 to Under-23.

Club career

Early career

Born in Abidjan, Fofana attend the MimoSifcom academy, before being promoted to the first team of ASEC Mimosas at the age of 16 in 2005. He made his CAF Champions League debut during that year, even scoring once against Egyptian outfit Zamalek.[1] He again played that competition the following year with the Mimosas, before signing with English side Charlton Athletic, as a result of the cooperation between these two clubs.[2]

Subsequently, Fofana was loaned to Norwegian club Fredrikstad. However, his contract with FFK was terminated in September 2008,[3] after failing to make an impact at the club, scoring only two goals in two seasons.

Fofana then spent some time with French clubs Cherbourg and Saint-Lô,[4] playing in the lower leagues, but without much success. Afterwards, Fofana moved back to his homeland and spent the next two seasons with Séwé Sport.

Shirak

In January 2012, Fofana came to Europe for the second time by joining Armenian club Shirak.[5] He was their leading scorer in the 2012–13 season with 14 goals, despite leaving the club in the middle of the season. In December 2012, Fofana was loaned to Iran Pro League club Zob Ahan.[6][7] He returned to Shirak the following summer for their qualification matches for the UEFA Champions League.[8] Fofana scored a hat-trick in the first leg of the first qualifying round against Sammarinese champions Tre Penne.[9] He also showed good performances in a second qualifying round tie against Partizan, securing a transfer to the Serbian club after agreement between two clubs.

Partizan

On 6 August 2013, it was announced that Fofana signed a four-year contract with Partizan.[10] He was officially presented the following day and was given the number 10 shirt.[11]

International career

Fofana was the top scorer of the Ivorian national under-17 team in their successful qualifying campaign for the 2005 African U-17 Championship, as well as their top scorer in the final tournament. He also played at the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship, scoring in their opening match against Italy U17.[12]

In preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympics,[13] Fofana was a member of the Ivorian U23 team at the 2008 Toulon Tournament, scoring the opener against Japan in the third-place match. He then missed in the penalty shoot-out, but Ivory Coast eventually managed to win the bronze medal.

Career statistics

As of 30 January 2015
Club performance League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Ivory Coast League Coupe de Côte d'Ivoire Africa Total
2005ASEC MimosasLigue 1--------
2006--------
Norway League Norwegian Cup Europe Total
2007FredrikstadTippeligaen2313100262
200810200030
France League Coupe de France Europe Total
2008–09CherbourgNational10--0010
2009–10Saint-LôCFA 2----00--
Ivory Coast League Coupe de Côte d'Ivoire Africa Total
2010Séwé SportLigue 1--------
2011--------
Armenia League Armenian Cup Europe Total
2011–12ShirakPremier League00300030
2012–13301400403414
Iran League Hazfi Cup Asia Total
2012–13Zob AhanPro League141--00141
Armenia League Armenian Cup Europe Total
2013–14ShirakPremier League11004354
Serbia League Serbian Cup Europe Total
2013–14PartizanSuperLiga1042100125
2014–1552113093
Total Ivory Coast --------
Norway 2415100292
France 10--0010
Armenia 311530834218
Iran 141--00141
Serbia 1563230218
Career total 852311311310729

Honours

Club

ASEC Mimosas
Shirak

International

Ivory Coast U17
Ivory Coast U23

References

  1. "Zamalek join neighbours Al Ahli in semis". fifa.com. 22 August 2005. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  2. "Global alliances boost Charlton". fifa.com. 29 February 2008. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  3. "Fofana og Kouadio til Frankrike" (in Norwegian). fredrikstadfk.no. 30 September 2008. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  4. "Un retour au sommet" (in French). lamanchelibre.fr. 16 August 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  5. Ширак просматривает 2-х ивуарийцев (in Russian). armsport.am. 27 January 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  6. Беко перешел в Иран на правах аренды (in Russian). armsport.am. 18 December 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  7. "Официально. Форвард "Ширака" перешел в "Зоб Ахан"" (in Russian). armfootball.com. 18 December 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  8. Беко присоединился к Шираку (in Russian). armsport.am. 11 June 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  9. "Fofana treble puts Shirak in control". uefa.com. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  10. "Fofana Partizanov 4 godine" (in Serbian). partizan.rs. 6 August 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  11. "Fofana predstavljen medijima" (in Serbian). partizan.rs. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  12. "Italy victorious after dramatic late show (3:4)". fifa.com. 17 September 2005. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  13. "Côte d'Ivoire - La sélection olympique au tournoi de Toulon" (in French). fifa.com. 20 May 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2014.

External links