AEK Athens forward Aboubakar Koïta became the first Mauritanian to score in the Champions League, according to Opta, in his team’s 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid on matchday 4 of the league phase.
Aboubakar Koïta has written his name into the history of Mauritanian football. In the 12th minute of the match between AEK Athens and Real Madrid, the 28-year-old forward opened the scoring with a powerful left-footed strike into the top corner, from a pass by former Madrid player Luka Jović, according to several media outlets (24直播网, 腾讯体育, العربي الجديد).
That goal makes him the first Mauritanian player to score in the Champions League, according to Opta (via 163.com and 懂球帝). He is also the second Mauritanian to play in a Champions League match, after Jordan Lefort, who lined up with Young Boys in the 2021-2022 season.
A goal in defeat
Played on the pitch at AEK Athens, the match was part of matchday 4 of the league phase. Koïta’s goal gave his side the lead, but Bellingham had equalised for Real before the break, with the score 1-1 at half-time (according to 163.com).
Real Madrid eventually won 3-2 on AEK’s pitch, according to العربي الجديد. Despite the defeat, Koïta gave the Madrid defence a hard time throughout the match, according to the same outlet.
A career that went through Belgium
Born in Senegal on 20 September 1998, Koïta followed his family, who had emigrated to Belgium. Spotted by a scout from the Belgian club Merksem, he worked his way through every age group up to his first professional contract, according to العربي الجديد.
Now 28, he plays for AEK Athens and represents Mauritania. By becoming the first Mauritanian scorer in the Champions League, according to Opta, he has now written a new page in his country’s football history.
A precedent named Jordan Lefort
Before Koïta, Jordan Lefort, a defender who played for Young Boys in the 2021-2022 season, had been the first Mauritanian to play in a Champions League match. Koïta is now the first to score in one, according to Opta.
AEK Athens will play the next matchday of the Champions League league phase, with Koïta in their ranks.