He will compose with Franck Kessié, one of the best midfielders of the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon (January 9-February 6). The Ivorian of PSV Eindhoven, Ibrahim Sangaré, elected player of the month of November of the Dutch championship, amazes in the Netherlands. He has everything to become one of the bosses of the Ivory Coast national team.
At the start of 2022, the two biggest clubs in the Netherlands are asking the same question: “ how to do without our Elephant in january? “. Defending champions Ajax Amsterdam and current Eredivisie runner-up will have to do without the league’s top scorer Sebastien haller, and PSV Eindhoven, leaders one point ahead, will have to do without Ibrahim Sangaré, the team’s most important player according to local media.
At 24, the midfielder is indeed living the best period of his young career. Arrived on tiptoe in September 2020 from Toulouse relegated to Ligue 2, Ibrahim Sangaré quickly established himself in the midfield, becoming the holder in the first month.
At the heart of the reactor in Eindhoven
Not always imperial with the ball on the foot last season, the one who trained at Denguelé Sports d’Odienné has made a lot of progress in this area. Closer to the opponent’s area and technically fine, the defensive midfielder has already scored three goals in 15 games, two more than in 29 games in the previous year. And when he scores, Ibrahim Sangaré likes to clean the skylight, like against Sparta Rotterdam on October 3 (see video above).
His technical ease also allows him to be the custodian of the game of his team, leader at mid-season. The number 6 of PSV is the one with the highest average passes per game of his club (77), ahead of the very experienced Mario Götze, 2014 world champion with Germany. He is fourth in the Dutch championship in this area and achieves the feat of succeeding almost 87% of his passes.
Netherlands Player of the Month for November
Many actions go through him in Eindhoven. Before passing the ball on to his teammates, Ibrahim Sangaré often recovered it. He is one of the best in the championship in this area with an average of 2.4 interceptions and 3.2 successful tackles per game, or nearly 6 defensive interventions that allow his team to recover the ball. A single player does better in the countries of the “Oranjes”.
This ” shy by nature Is therefore absolutely not on the ground where he reigns in the middle, to the point of having been crowned best player of the month of November in Eredivisie. A distinction which absolutely did not surprise his trainer Roger Schmidt: “ He’s a very good midfielder because he’s good with and without the ball. He is reliable and strong in duels. He has all the qualities that a central environment needs “.
At the heart of a strong duo among the Elephants
Very efficient and boss of the middle at PSV, he could also become one with the Elephants. In the hierarchy, Franck Kessié of AC Milan is still the captain, but Ibrahim Sangaré managed to win alongside him to form one of the best pairs of defensive midfielders in Africa.
For the moment, this duo is still getting to know each other before probably playing for many years together since Sangaré is only 24 years old and Kessié, 25 years old. A very good omen for Côte d’Ivoire which hopes that these two will be in great shape at the CAN, after having recently contracted Covid-19.