Oumar Sako

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, he represented it internationally, before switching allegiance to the Niger national team in 2024.

Oumar Sako

Personal information
Date of birth	(1996-05-04) 4 May 1996 (age 29)
Place of birth	Abobo, Ivory Coast
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Rostov
Number	3
Youth career
	AS Tanda
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2018	AS Tanda
2018–2020	ASEC Mimosas
2020–2021	Al-Kharaitiyat	19	(1)
2021	Beroe	17	(1)
2022–2023	LASK	7	(0)
2022–2023	→ Arda (loan)	28	(1)
2023–2024	Arda	20	(2)
2024	→ Rostov (loan)	11	(0)
2024–	Rostov	28	(1)
International career‡
2019	Ivory Coast	1	(0)
2024–	Niger	4	(2)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 24 May 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 21 March 2025

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

As of match played 1 June 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Europe		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
Career total			130	6	23	0	9	0	2	0	164	6

1. Appearances in CAF Champions League
2. Appearances of Emir of Qatar Cup
3. Appearance in UEFA Europa Conference League

International goals

Scores and results list Niger's goal tally first.^[10][11]

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 qualifier
2.	18 November 2024	Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana		2–1	2–1