Oumar Sako (born 4 May 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for Russian club Rostov.[1][2][3] Born in the Ivory Coast, and a former Ivory Coast international, he plays for the Niger national team.
Club career
On 30 January 2024, Sako joined Russian Premier League club Rostov on loan.[4] On 26 June 2024, Rostov made the transfer permanent and signed a three-year contract with Sako.[5]
International career
Sako made his debut for the Ivory Coast national team on 22 September 2019 in a CHAN qualifier against Niger.[6]
In May 2024, Sako’s club Rostov announced that he has been called up to the Niger national team.[7] Sako made his debut for Niger on 9 September 2024 in a Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ghana at the Berkane Municipal Stadium in Morocco and scored the equalizing goal in a 1–1 draw.[8] He scored a late winner for Niger in the away 2–1 victory over Ghana in the same qualification on 18 November 2024, even though Niger failed to advance from the qualification group.[9]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 17 May 2026
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Mimosas | 2018–19 | Ligue 1 | — | — | 8[a] | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | |||
| Al Kharaitiyat | 2020–21 | Qatar Stars League | 19 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | 2[b] | 0 | 26 | 1 | |
| Stara Gazora | 2021–22 | efbet Liga | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 1 | ||
| LASK | 2021–22 | Austrian Bundesliga | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | |
| Arda (loan) | 2022–23 | efbet Liga | 28 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 1 | ||
| Arda | 2023–24 | efbet Liga | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 2 | ||
| Rostov (loan) | 2023–24 | Russian Premier League | 11 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 0 | ||
| Rostov | 2024–25 | Russian Premier League | 28 | 1 | 11 | 0 | — | — | 39 | 1 | ||
| 2025–26 | Russian Premier League | 23 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 0 | |||
| Total | 51 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 153 | 6 | 29 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 193 | 6 | ||
- ^ Appearances in CAF Champions League
- ^ Appearances of Emir of Qatar Cup
- ^ Appearance in UEFA Europa Conference League
International
- As of match played 5 June 2026
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ivory Coast | 2019 | 1 | 0 |
| Niger | 2024 | 3 | 2 |
| 2025 | 10 | 2 | |
| 2026 | 3 | 1 | |
| Country total | 16 | 5 | |
International goals
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 9 September 2024 | Berkane Municipal Stadium, Berkane, Morocco |  Ghana |
1–1 | 1–1 | 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 2. | 18 November 2024 | Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana | Ghana |
2–1 | 2–1 | |
| 3. | 6 June 2025 | Stade Général Seyni Kountché, Niamey, Niger |  Gabon |
3–1 | 4–3 | Friendly |
| 4. | 18 November 2025 | Berrechid Municipal Stadium, Berrechid, Morocco |  Guinea |
1–1 | 1–1 | |
| 5. | 5 June 2026 | Père Jégo Stadium, Casablanca, Morocco |  Benin |
1–1 | 1–1 |
References
- ^ Oumar Sako at WorldFootball.net
- ^ “kooora”. Archived from the original on 24 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ Oumar Sako at Soccerway
- ^ “ДОБРО ПОЖАЛОВАТЬ, УМАР САКО!” (in Russian). FC Rostov. 30 January 2024.
- ^ “УМАР САКО С НАМИ!” (in Russian). FC Rostov. 26 June 2024. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
- ^ Oumar Sako at National-Football-Teams.com
- ^ “УМАР САКО ОТПРАВИЛСЯ В РАСПОЛОЖЕНИЕ НОВОЙ ДЛЯ СЕБЯ СБОРНОЙ” [Oumar Sako is going to a new national team] (in Russian). FC Rostov. 27 May 2024.
- ^ “Niger v Ghana game report”. Soccerway. 9 September 2024.
- ^ “Ghana v Niger game report”. ESPN. 18 November 2024. Archived from the original on 13 January 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
- ^ “Sako equalizer put Ghana for tight position for 2025 Afcon qualifiers” (in Nigerian Pidgin). bbc.com. 9 September 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2025.