Djiman Koukou Explained

Djiman Koukou
Full Name:Djiman Waidi Koukou
Birth Date:14 November 1990
Birth Place:Porto-Novo, Benin
Height:1.85 m
Position:Midfielder
Years1:2004–2007
Caps1:50
Goals1:7
Years2:2007–2009
Caps2:37
Goals2:5
Years3:2009–2010
Caps3:15
Goals3:0
Years4:2010–2011
Caps4:33
Goals4:1
Years5:2011–2013
Caps5:0
Goals5:0
Years6:2011–2012
Clubs6:Belenenses (loan)
Caps6:18
Goals6:0
Years7:2012–2013
Caps7:6
Goals7:0
Years8:2013–2016
Caps8:117
Goals8:3
Years9:2016–2018
Caps9:37
Goals9:1
Years10:2018
Caps10:4
Goals10:0
Years11:2019–2021
Caps11:42
Goals11:1
Years12:2021–2023
Caps12:42
Goals12:0
Nationalyears1:2008–2021[1]
Nationalcaps1:42
Nationalgoals1:1
Club-Update:10:46, 21 October 2023 (UTC)

Djiman Waidi Koukou (born 14 November 1990) is a Beninese professional footballer who most recently played as a midfielder for French club Les Herbiers VF. He made 42 appearances for the Benin national team scoring once.

Club career

Born in Porto-Novo, Koukou played for Requins de l'Atlantique FC and Soleil FC in his country. On 5 July 2009, he signed with Thonon Évian F.C. in France,[2] going on to play two seasons in the third division.

After a successful year with US Créteil-Lusitanos, Koukou joined Portuguese club S.C. Beira-Mar in late June 2011, on a free transfer.[3] He was immediately loaned to Segunda Liga team C.F. Os Belenenses, appearing in slightly more than half of the games during his only campaign.[4]

Koukou failed to break into the first team with the Aveiro side, and returned to France in the summer of 2012. He trained with amateurs UMS Montélimar for several months, and eventually signed in February 2013.[5]

In January 2013, Koukou went on trial with Chamois Niortais F.C. from Ligue 2. After training for 15 days, he was offered a contract until the end of the season by manager Pascal Gastien,[6] and went on to compete with the team in three and a half second level seasons whilst playing 125 matches across all competitions.

In early July 2016, Koukou joined RC Lens – also of the French division two – on a two-year deal.[7] He scored his first and only league goal for them on 28 November 2017, helping the hosts defeat AC Ajaccio 2–0.[8]

Koukou moved to the Romanian Liga I on 28 September 2018, agreeing to a two-year contract at FC Astra Giurgiu.[9] [10] One year later, he returned to France and its third tier by signing with recently relegated Red Star FC.[11]

International career

Koukou made his debut for Benin in 2008, being selected for that year's Africa Cup of Nations. He earned his first cap on 7 September, in a 3–2 home win against Angola for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.[12]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Évian2009–10National1500000150
Créteil2010–11National3312000351
Belenenses (loan)2011–12Segunda Liga1801020210
Niort2012–13Ligue 290000090
2013–14Ligue 23612010391
2014–15Ligue 23401110361
2015–16Ligue 23822010412
Total11735130001254
Lens2016–17Ligue 22003020250
2017–18Ligue 21714021232
Total371704100482
Astra Giurgiu2018–19Liga I401050
Red Star2019–20National1302000150
2020–21National2913000321
Total421500000471
Career total266621191002968

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mamrud . Roberto . Benin - Record International Players . RSSSF . 21 October 2023 . 23 July 2023.
  2. http://wadimou25.skyrock.com/2535819679-Evian-TGFc-Avec-Djiman-Koukou-Aussems-va-t-il-partir-de-la-tete-de-la.html Evian TGFc: Avec Djiman Koukou, Aussems va-t-il partir de la tête de la DTN? (Evian TGFc: With Djiman Koukou, will Aussems lead the way in DTN?)
  3. News: Koukou na rampa de lançamento. Koukou poised for move. A Bola. pt. 30 June 2011. 13 November 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110702004411/http://www.abola.pt/nnh/ver.aspx?id=272565. 2 July 2011.
  4. News: Koukou encerra plantel. Koukou completes squad. Record. pt. 1 September 2011. 17 December 2018.
  5. News: Koukou, le revoilou. La Nouvelle République du Centre-Ouest. fr. 5 February 2013. 27 December 2015.
  6. Web site: Niort: Djiman Koukou de retour en France. Niort: Djiman Koukou returns to France. Foot National. Chochois. Alexandre. fr. 31 January 2013. 31 January 2013.
  7. News: Racing de Lens: Djiman Koukou présenté à la presse samedi dernier. Racing Club de Lens: Djiman Koukou presented to the press last Saturday. La Nouvelle Tribune. Affanou. Roland. fr. 6 July 2016. 17 December 2018.
  8. News: Football – Ligue 2: Lens réagit contre l'AC Ajaccio: revivez le match. Football – Ligue 2: Lens react against AC Ajaccio: relive the match. La Voix du Nord. fr. 28 November 2017. 17 December 2018.
  9. Web site: Mengolo– 3 ani, Koukou – 2!. Mengolo– 3 years, Koukou – 2!. FC Astra Giurgiu. ro. 28 September 2018. 1 October 2018.
  10. Web site: EXCLUSIV Mutări pentru titlu. O forţă a Ligii 1 a transferat azi, gratis, doi jucători importanţi. EXCLUSIVE Title moves. Liga 1 powerhouse have acquired today, for free, two important players. Digi Sport. ro. 28 September 2018. 28 September 2018.
  11. Web site: Koukou signe. Koukou signs. Red Star F.C. Ducassou. Paul. fr. 11 September 2019. 8 October 2019.
  12. https://web.archive.org/web/20080917123958/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/africa/matches/round=250418/match=300036602/report.html Benin – Angola 3:2 (1:1)