This Monday, three new members of the Nîmes Olympique squad for the 2023-24 season were presented to the press. There was Namakoro Diallo (27), the Franco-Malian defender who arrives from Boulogne-sur-Mer (N2) and the two reservists from last season Wesley N’Gakoutou and Hamza Sbaï. Watch their video presentation.
Diallo : Le leader
Namakoro Diallo wants to bring his experience • Photo: Norman Garden
Namakoro Dialo : born March 26, 1996 in Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis). Position: left side. Nationality: Franco-Malian. Under contract with Nîmes Olympique until June 2026 (subject to maintaining professional status). Clubs: Stade Rennais II (2018-19), US Avranches (2019-20), Stade Rennais II (2020-21), SO Romorantin (2021-22) and US Boulogne-sur-Mer (2022-23).
The former Rennes player will try to bring his experience to a group that may lack it this season. From the height of his 27 years, the defender assures: I have enough experience to adapt “. The native of Clichy has the profile of the player who can please the Nîmes supporters: “ I make a lot of effort and I am aggressive in duels “. Be careful though, because the player received a 10-game suspension last season (a sentence then reduced to four games) and who will miss the first day of National. Diallo also had medical glitches with operations on both shins and both calves. After a few galleys he “rediscovered the pleasure of Romorantin football”, two seasons ago. Here he is at Nîmes Olympique, where he almost signed in 2017.
N’Gakoutou: The striker
N’Gakoutou started playing football in Alsace • Photo: Norman Garden
Wesley N’Gakoutou : born on August 18, 2001 in Clichy (Hauts-de-Seine). Position: striker. Nationality: Franco-Central African. Under contract with Nîmes Olympique until June 2026 (subject to maintaining professional status). Clubs: AS Strasbourg, Schiltigheim, Haguenau, ASPTT Dijon, Chambly, Nîmes Olympique II (2022-23). He has an appearance in Ligue 2, playing three minutes in the last game of the season (Nîmes Olympique – FC Sochaux 3-1).
Coming from a family of 13 children, this offensive player learned football in the great West and in particular in Alsace. First at the position of number 8, then in 9, to today be in a corridor and he announces that he has certain qualities: ” speed, percussion, dribbling and assisting “. Then he confesses to having improve in the zone of truth “. Despite his lack of National experience, the Crocodile is not worried: “ I’m mentally ready and I have no apprehension “. Author of two goals and eight assists with the Nîmes reserve (R1) last season, he aims to do as well this season with the first team.
Sbaï : Le “Box to box”
Hamza Sbaï played at Stade Beaucairois for three seasons • Photo: Norman Garden
Hamza Sabai : born on February 24, 2000 in Avignon (Vaucluse). Position: midfield. Under contract with Nîmes Olympique (subject to maintaining professional status). Nationality: Franco-Moroccan. Clubs: Le Pontet (2018-19), Stade Beaucairois (2019-22), Nîmes Olympique II (2022-23).
Alongside the Ile-de-France residents Diallo and N’Gakoutou, Hamza Sbaï acted as regional stage. This Avignonnais has only played in clubs in the south, since he notably wore the colors of US Le Pontet and Stade Beaucairois. He bet in 2022 to leave the SB30 in National 3 to join the NO reserve which had just fallen in Regional 1. The bet is a winner since at the end of last season, Frédéric Bompard summons him to play the last day of Ligue 2 (Nîmes – Sochaux 3-1). A few days later, the midfielder signed a three-year professional contract. ” I did not do any training center. I know how to be offensive but also defensive when necessary. I’m a “box to box”. Determined but lucid, Sbaï knows very well that ” The hardest part begins and it’s the beginning of a great path ».
#EVENING #EVENING #Diallo #NGakoutou #Sbaï #wave #Crocodiles
