Nîmes Olympique: to boost the crocodile attack, the arrival of Abdoulaye Sané will not be a luxury

Abdoulaye Sané was recruited “for his qualities of speed and his ability to score,” says his coach Frédéric Bompard. Midi Libre – Thierry Albenque

Senegalese center forward Abdoulaye Sané, 31, was recruited by the Croco club to strengthen a suffering offensive sector. He will make his debut on Friday February 9 at the Antonins stadium against Avranches, on behalf of the 20th day of the National.

Frédéric Bompard was quickly seduced and convinced. After only two days of testing, the crocodile technician expressed his desire to recruit him. Senegalese striker Abdoulaye Sané, 31, signed a six-month contract with Nîmes Olympique ten days ago. Not qualified for the trip to Le Mans (0-0), he will be qualified for the reception at Avranches, Friday February 9, at the Antonins stadium (7:30 p.m.).

Not physically 100% yet

Without a club since the end of his contract in June 2023 with Churchill Brothers FC, an Indian D2 club where he believes “to have wasted (his) time and regressed”, Abdoulaye Sané is certainly not yet ready to start: “I'm getting better and better but I'm only at 70% of my physical capacity,” he said a week ago. But he will undoubtedly be in the group. "We're not going to rush things so as not to hurt him. He feels stiff, that's normal, but he's very fit. He is a knowledgeable and seasoned professional, he knows the job and pays attention to it, says the crocodile coach, who spared the player this Wednesday, February 7 (pains of fatigue).< /p>

When you're down, you have to work and keep your head up

Born in Dioloulou, in Basse-Casamance, in the south of Senegal, Abdoulaye Sané explains: "I come from far away." A way, for him , to make it clear that he is there "to work", an expression often used, and that ’there’there is no question of letting go, otherwise I will stay at home& ;quot;. "Football is made of ups and downs, he insists, and when you're down, you have to work and keep your head up."

In Senegal, he went from the countryside to the capital

It's his big brother who makes him leave his village and takes him to Dakar, to AS Douanes. Going “from the countryside to the capital”, the adaptation is “complicated” but anyone who has Cristiano Ronaldo as a model quickly makes his mark. He started professionally at the age of 18 and became an international U23.
Spotted by Rennes who recruited him after a successful trial, he arrived in France in 2011.

Abdoulaye Sané arrives in Nîmes "to push the other attackers, encourage young people to have more desire and bring (his) experience". Midi Libre – Thierry Albenque

Nine seasons in France and four clubs

He spent nine seasons there and knew four clubs: Stade Rennais with whom he made fifteen appearances in L1 with Antonetti, the arrival of Montanier – "Things weren't going well with him" – stopping its progress and confining it to reserve ; Laval in L2 where he was loaned for a year, without managing to establish himself; the Red Star where he saw relegation to the National and an immediate comeback; and Sochaux, finally, where he could have stayed for more than two years if he had found financial common ground to extend. Hence his departure to Saudi Arabia, to Al-Taawoun where patience is not the strong point (five coaches in one season!) and where the experience was hardly enriching .

"Football is fighting, especially in National"

What he remembers from his 96 Ligue 2 matches (18 goals) and 29 National matches (13 goals): "Football is combat, above all in National. You have to fight for every ball, win the duels. Afterwards, it’s easier."

"Encouraging young people to have more desire"

Pushed by Mendy, his former partner at Red Star, to join the Crocos, Sané arrives "", he who already warns: "There will be difficult times but we will have to stay united and focused. " He defines himself as a "very fast" player, who likes "space to gain depth" and "n  rsquo;don't hesitate to press the defender, too.

A true power forward

"What I liked were his qualities of speed and his ability to score, wherever he went, summarizes Frédéric Bompard. He is a real forward attacker even if he can also slide to one side. An attacker responsible for boosting, with Camara and Mbemba, the second worst attack of the Championship (17 goals). It won't be a luxury.

The Echoes of the Crocos

Effective. Disrupted by a virus at the start of the week, Diallo, Burner, Mbina and Doucour&eacute ; are better. This Wednesday afternoon, during a session focused on work in front of goal, they trained normally. Were not missing à the call that San&eac; and Sy, housed at home cause of pain of fatigue, and Guessoum, affectedé Monday à the right ankle. Labonne (quadriceps) is in the recovery phase. Doukansy, for his part, found himself the group on Monday.

Cartons. Warned last Friday at Le Mans, Diouf now finds himself under threat of third yellow card, synonymous with automatic suspension. Two other Crocos are similarly suspended, Doucouré and Sbaï.

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