Modibo Maïga (born 3 September 1987) is a Malian professional footballer who plays as a striker.

Modibo Maïga
Maïga with Mali in 2015
Personal information
Full name Modibo Maïga[1]
Date of birth (1987-09-03) 3 September 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth Bamako, Mali
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Position(s) Striker, winger
Youth career
AS Bamako
2000–2002 Stade Malien
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003 Stade Malien 3 (1)
2004–2006 Raja Casablanca 47 (12)
2007–2010 Le Mans 88 (15)
2010–2012 Sochaux 59 (24)
2011 Sochaux B 1 (2)
2012–2015 West Ham United 34 (4)
2014Queens Park Rangers (loan) 8 (1)
2014–2015Metz (loan) 25 (9)
2015–2016 Al-Nassr 19 (5)
2016–2017 Al-Ittihad Kalba 23 (9)
2017–2018 Ajman 19 (10)
2019 Buriram United 3 (1)
2021 Ajman 14 (4)
2021–2023 Hajer 49 (17)
2023 Al-Jeel
International career
2007–2016 Mali 59 (13)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Mali
Africa Cup of Nations
Third place 2012 Eguatorial Guinea-Gabon
Third place 2013 South Africa
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 03:48, 13 April 2019 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 September 2017

A full international for Mali since 2007, he was part of their squads at the four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, helping them to third place in the 2012 and 2013 editions.

Club career

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Raja Casablanca

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Born in Bamako, Maïga began his career with Stade Malien in his home country aged 15 in 2003, later moving to Moroccan club Raja CA Casablanca where he spent his late teenage years, winning several competitions, including the Arab Champions League and the Moroccan League.[3]

Le Mans

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Maïga made a move to French Ligue 1 side Le Mans aged 20 in 2007.[3] Playing alongside Gervinho and Stéphane Sessègnon, Maïga established himself in French football. Despite Le Mans' relegation to Ligue 2, Maïga scored 15 goals in 88 games. He signed a four-year contract in 2010 with Sochaux and took the number 15 shirt.

Sochaux

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During the 2010–11 campaign, Maïga struck up a 30-goal partnership with Brown Ideye, each scoring 15 goals. Between them, they scored over half of Sochaux's league goals. Maïga and Brown were assisted by playmaking duo Marvin Martin and Ryad Boudebouz as Sochaux qualified for the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League.[3]

On 12 August 2011, Maïga announced to his club that he would never again play for Sochaux because he wanted a transfer to Newcastle United. He refused to play against Caen and Nancy, but opted to play against Metalist Kharkiv and Lorient. He and teammate Kévin Anin were refused a move away from the club and were later criticised by supporters, who temporarily withdrew their support in response to poor performances and the attitude of Anin and Maïga.[4]

On 18 October, several newspapers, including The Daily Telegraph and L'Equipe, reported that Maïga was close to a deal to move to Newcastle in the January 2012 transfer window[5] and on 13 December, it was reported that he had passed a medical in London ahead of his move, with the transfer fee believed to be in the region of £7 million.[6] On 16 December, however, L'Equipe reported that Maïga had failed his medical with Newcastle.[7]

West Ham United

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Maïga with West Ham United

On 18 July 2012, after playing out the remainder of the 2011–12 season with Sochaux, Maïga signed on a four-year contract with an option for a further two years, at an undisclosed fee.[3] Maïga made his debut for West Ham on 18 August 2012, coming on as an 81st-minute substitute for Carlton Cole in a 1–0 home win against Aston Villa.[8]

On 28 August, Maïga scored on his full home debut against Crewe Alexandra in the second round of the League Cup to make the score 2–0 following Nicky Maynard's opening goal.[9] He scored his first league goal on 20 October against Southampton in a 4–1 win at Upton Park.[10] His only other league goals for West Ham in his first two seasons with the club came in a 3–1 win against Chelsea—West Ham's first against the club since 2003, on 1 December 2012—and in a 3–3 draw with West Bromwich Albion, with a 20-yard shot on 20 December 2013.[11][12] On 18 December 2013, Maïga scored the winning goal for West Ham in a 2–1 away win against rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup, marking his first goal in over a year for the club.[13] His form brought criticism from some West Ham supporters but he was defended and praised for his most recent efforts by then-manager Sam Allardyce.[14]

He returned to the West Ham squad from his season-long loan with Metz for the beginning of the 2015–16 season. He played in four of West Ham's six 2015–16 Europa League qualifying games, against Birkirkara and Astra Giurgiu, without scoring.[15] On 9 August, he played in his first Premier League game of the season, coming on as a 90th-minute substitute for Diafra Sakho in a 2–0 away win against Arsenal.[16] In the third Premier League game of the season, on 22 August against AFC Bournemouth, Maïga scored West Ham's third goal in a 3–4 defeat in what was to be his last game for the club.[17]

Queens Park Rangers (loan)

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On 31 January 2014, Maïga joined Queens Park Rangers on loan for the remainder of the 2013–14 season.[18] He made his debut on 1 February in a draw against Burnley. Coming on as a 68th-minute substitute for Andrew Johnson, Maïga scored in the 79th minute to make the score 3–3, the final score.[19] It was his only goal for QPR.[15]

Metz (loan)

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In August 2014, Maïga joined French club Metz on a season-long loan with an option to make the loan a permanent transfer in the summer of 2015.[20] He scored his debut goals for Metz on 1 November, scoring twice in a 3–2 home win against Caen.[21] On 4 April 2015, Maïga scored a hat-trick for Metz as they defeated Toulouse 3–2.[22] Maïga scored nine league goals in 25 games for Metz whilst on loan,[23] while they finished 19th in Ligue 1 and were relegated to Ligue 2.[24]

Al-Nassr

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In August 2015, Maïga signed a two-year contract for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr for an undisclosed fee.[25]

Al-Ittihad Kalba

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In October 2016, Maïga signed for UAE Arabian Gulf League club Al-Ittihad Kalba after his release from Al-Nassr in July 2016.[26]

Ajman Club

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In September 2017, Maïga signed for UAE Arabian Gulf League club Ajman for a free transfer.[27]

Hajer

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On 3 September 2021, Maïga joined Saudi club Hajer.[28] On 23 January 2023, Maïga was released from his contract.[29]

Al-Jeel

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On 24 January 2023, Maïga joined Saudi club Al-Jeel.[30]

International career

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Maïga rising for a header in a friendly against Ghana, 31 March 2015

Maïga plays for Mali, making his debut on 17 November 2007 in a 2–3 friendly defeat to Senegal at the Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir in Colombes, France, as a 59th-minute substitute for Souleymane Dembélé.[31] His first goal came on 21 June 2009 in World Cup qualification, equalising in a 3–1 victory over Benin at the Stade du 26 Mars in Bamako.[32] He wore the number 10 shirt at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, playing all three games of a group stage elimination in Angola.

He was called up again to the Mali squad for 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, but in February 2012 whilst in Gabon participating in the competition, he contracted malaria and was hospitalized in Libreville.[33] He missed the remainder of the tournament, in which his nation came third. The following year, he again helped the team to the same position in the tournament.

At the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea, Maïga headed the equaliser in a 1–1 draw against Guinea in the final Group D game, but the opponents advanced on draw of lots.[34]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 11 May 2021.[15]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Le Mans 2007–08 Ligue 1 19 0 2 0 1 0 22 0
2008–09 37 8 3 0 1 0 41 8
2009–10 32 7 1 0 2 0 35 7
Total 88 15 6 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 98 15
Sochaux 2010–11 Ligue 1 36 15 2 1 1 0 39 16
2011–12 23 9 1 0 0 0 1[a] 0 25 9
Total 59 24 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 64 25
West Ham United 2012–13 Premier League 17 2 0 0 2 2 19 4
2013–14 14 1 1 0 4 1 19 2
2015–16 3 1 0 0 0 0 4[a] 0 7 1
Total 34 4 1 0 6 3 4 0 0 0 45 7
Queens Park Rangers (loan) 2013–14 Championship 8 1 0 0 0 0 8 1
Metz (loan) 2014–15 Ligue 1 25 9 0 0 1 0 26 9
Al Nassr 2015–16 Saudi Pro League 19 5 4 2 5[b] 1 2 3 30 11
Ittihad Kalba 2016–17 UAE Pro League 23 9 1 0 1 0 25 9
Ajman 2017–18 19 10 1 0 3 0 23 10
Buriram United 2019 Thai League 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 2[b] 0 5 1
Ajman 2020–21 UAE Pro League 14 4 0 0 0 0 14 4
Hajer 2021–22 First Division League 0 0 0 0
2022–23 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Al-Jeel 2022–23 Second Division League 0 0 0 0
Career total 292 83 16 3 16 3 12 1 2 3 338 92
  1. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ a b Appearances in AFC Champions League

International

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As of 4 June 2016[31]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Mali 2007 2 0
2008 2 1
2009 8 2
2010 9 1
2011 4 1
2012 8 3
2013 5 1
2014 0 0
2015 11 3
2016 8 1
Total 57 13
As of match played 4 June 2016. Mali score listed first, score column indicates score after each Maïga goal.[35]
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 25 March 2008 Stade Sébastien Charléty, Paris, France 3   France B 2–0 2–3 Friendly
2 21 June 2009 Stade du 26 Mars, Bamako, Mali 10   Benin 1–1 3–1 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
3 12 August 2009 Amable-et-Micheline-Lozai Stadium, Le Petit-Quevilly, France 11   Burkina Faso 2–0 3–0 Friendly
4 17 November 2010 Stade Roger Rochard, Évreux, France 24   DR Congo 1–1 3–1 Friendly
5 10 August 2011 Stade Mustapha Ben Jannet, Monastir, Tunisia 28   Tunisia 1–2 2–4 Friendly
6 10 June 2012 Stade du 4 Août, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso 35   Algeria 2–1 2–1 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
7 8 September 2012 Stade du 26 Mars, Bamako, Mali 36   Botswana 3–0 3–0 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
8 13 October 2012 Lobatse Stadium, Lobatse, Botswana 37   Botswana 2–0 4–1 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
9 15 October 2013 Cheonan Stadium, Cheonan, South Korea 42   South Korea 1–0 1–3 Friendly
10 28 January 2015 Estadio de Mongomo, Mongomo, Equatorial Guinea 46   Guinea 1–1 1–1 2015 Africa Cup of Nations
11 13 June 2015 Stade du 26 Mars, Bamako, Mali 50   South Sudan 1–0 2–0 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
12 9 October 2015 Stade de l'Aube, Troyes, France 52   Burkina Faso 3–1 4–1 Friendly
13 4 June 2016 Juba Stadium, Juba, South Sudan 57   South Sudan 2–0 3–0 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Honours

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Mali

References

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  1. ^ "Premier League Clubs submit Squad Lists" (PDF). Premier League. 1 February 2013. p. 39. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  2. ^ "Premier League Player Profile Modibo Maiga". Premier League. Barclays Premier League. 2015. Archived from the original on 12 June 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d "Hammers move for Maiga". www.whufc.com. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  4. ^ "Sochaux fans go on strike in protest at players' 'childish behaviour'". www.metro.co.uk. 14 January 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  5. ^ Edwards, Luke (18 October 2011). "Newcastle United set to sign long-term target Modibo Maiga when January transfer window opens". London: Telegraph. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  6. ^ Douglas, Mark. "Modibo Maiga set for a Newcastle United medical". Journal. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  7. ^ Taisne, Emery. "Maïga n'ira pas à Newcastle (Maiga will not go to Newcastle)". L'Equipe. Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  8. ^ "West Ham 1 – 0 Aston Vila". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
  9. ^ "West Ham 2–0 Crewe". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  10. ^ "West Ham 4–1 Southampton" BBC Sport. 20 October 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  11. ^ "West Ham 3-1 Chelsea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  12. ^ "West Ham 3-3 WBA". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  13. ^ "Tottenham 1-2 West Ham: Nightmare start for Sherwood as Hammers rally to go through". Goal. 18 December 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  14. ^ "West Ham to be patient with Andy Carroll as Sam Allardyce defends Modibo Maiga". Sky Sports. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  15. ^ a b c Modibo Maiga at Soccerbase
  16. ^ "Arsenal 0-2 West Ham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  17. ^ "West Ham 3-4 Bournemouth". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  18. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Maiga Makes Move". Queens Park Rangers FC. 31 January 2014.
  19. ^ "QPR 3–3 Burnley". BBC Sport. 1 February 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  20. ^ "Maiga loaned to FC Metz | News | Latest News | News | West Ham United". Archived from the original on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  21. ^ "West Ham loanee scores twice in Metz 3-2 victory". Hereinthecity.com. 1 November 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  22. ^ "Maiga hat-trick gives Metz hope". ESPN. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  23. ^ "Modibo Maiga at Soccerbase". Soccerbase. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  24. ^ "Ligue 1: Metz relegated after 4-0 defeat to Lorient". Sky Sports. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  25. ^ "Maiga departs". West Ham United F.C. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  26. ^ "Modibo Maïga signs for UAE side Ittihad Kalba". KingFut.com. 4 October 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  27. ^ "Modibo Maïga à Ajman Club". L'Equipe. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  28. ^ "النجم المالي "موديبو مايقا" يقود هجوم هجر في #دوري_يلو". Hajerclub.net.
  29. ^ "أنهت إدارة نادي #هجر برئاسة الاستاذ حمد العريفي علاقتها التعاقدية مع اللاعب المالي موديبو مايقا".
  30. ^ "MODIBO MAIGA قــناص هجوم الجــيل".
  31. ^ a b Maïga, Modibo at National-Football-Teams.com
  32. ^ "MALI-BENIN 3-1 : LA BELLE REVANCHE DES AIGLES DU MALI" [MALI 3-1 BENIN: THE BEAUTIFUL REVENGE OF MALI'S EAGLES] (in French). Government of Mali. 21 June 2009. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  33. ^ "Modibo Maiga still recovering from Malaria contracted during 2012 Afcon". Goal.com. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  34. ^ "BBC Sport – Guinea 1-1 Mali". BBC Sport. 28 January 2015.
  35. ^ Modibo Maïga at Soccerway
  36. ^ "Paris Saint Germain midfielder Momo Sissoko makes Mali Afcon squad". Goal.com. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  37. ^ "African Cup of Nations 2013: Full Fixtures, Schedule, Standings and Results". Syndication.bleacherreport.com.
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