AEK Athens winger Aboubakary Koita scored Mauritania’s first-ever Champions League goal on 4 November 2026, in his side’s 2-3 defeat to Real Madrid.
On 4 November 2026, at the Agia Sophia Stadium, Aboubakary Koita wrote his name into Mauritanian football history. The AEK Athens winger opened the scoring against Real Madrid in the 12th minute, registering, according to IDN Times, Mauritania’s first goal in the Champions League.
It was not enough for his side: AEK ultimately went down 2-3 on matchday 4 of the 2026/2027 league phase. The player’s name nonetheless enters the annals of a competition in which Mauritania had never scored.
A goal for the history books
He received the ball from Luka Jovic, the AEK striker and former Real Madrid player. Koita then got past Marc Cucurella before firing left-footed into the near post, beyond the reach of Thibaut Courtois, the Madrid goalkeeper.
A Bellingham reply, then an assist
Jude Bellingham equalised in the 32nd minute with a backheel. Koita was not done there: in the 75th minute he provided an assist for Stavro Pilo, which put AEK back in front.
But Kylian Mbappé equalised in the 78th minute. Real Madrid won 2-3 and AEK ultimately fell to defeat.
An unusual path
Born in Senegal and trained in Belgium, Aboubakary Koita has represented Mauritania since November 2023 thanks to his father’s heritage. As of 5 November 2026, he has 25 caps and 5 goals for the national team.
He has played four 2026/2027 Champions League matches with AEK Athens. He is not the first Mauritanian in the competition: Jordan Lefort played for Young Boys in 2021/2022. Koita is, however, the first to have scored in it.
Mauritania have taken part in only three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, in 2019, 2021 and 2023.