By Velile Mnyandu in Douala, Cameroon
Following some inspiring performance at the 2021 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Cameroon for Ivory Coast, goalkeeper Ali Badra Sangare is now focusing on helping his club JDR Stars to gain promotion to the Premier Soccer League’s Premier Division.
Sangare was speaking to iDiski Times at the Japoma stadium in Douala following their exit from the tournament after losing to Egypt 6-5 one penalties in a quarterfinal match.
Coming to the 33rd edition of the AFCON, Sangare was a second choice goalkeeper to former TP Mazembe goalkeeper Sylvain Gbohouo who was unfortunately banned by FIFA for a doping violation before the tournament started.
This left Sangare as the obvious first choice, having also been part of the Ivorian squad in the past two AFCON tournaments in Gabon and Egypt respectively. And he’s relishing the opportunity he has received in Cameroon.
“Personally, I think I learned a lot. When I arrived for this tournament, I was not the first choice. Now I believe in myself, that I have done a great job. Now everyone is believing in me, I think is a good thing because I need to get the bigger.
“I need to go to South Africa and relax a bit. And then I have the challenge to promote my team,” said Sangare about his Pretoria based GladAfrica Championship side.
The 35 year-old was one of the 15 South African based players who took part at this AFCON, which is still underway in Cameroon and he made his mark in this tournament. With Stars tied on 32 points with log leaders Richards Bay FC after 17 matches this season, Sangare can be understood when he says the focus is on helping his team to promotion to the elite league as he belongs at that level now.
“Yes, I think this performance can take me very far, very far. I think I learned a lot in this tournament and yes Nemasisi has called me, I’m talking to him also every day. Even now, he’s going to send me a message to encourage me. But soon, I will be going back to the club,” concluded Sangare as he spoke about the love he has been getting from his boss and Stars head coach Nditsheni Nemasisi.
At Stars, Sangare is at his third South African club having first arrived at Free State Stars in the Premier Division in 2017 before moving to Uthongathi two years later and Stars last season.
The Elephants head coach Patrice Beaumelle was also full of praise for Sangare and believes that under the circumstances he has done his best.
“He’s done very well, he’s shown that he can play in the goalposts. I’m proud of him, because he did a very good job,” said Beaumelle.
