Abdou Samaké

Malian professional footballer (born 1996)
Abdou Samaké
Abdou Samake
Samake with Pacific FC in 2021
Personal information
Full name Abdoulaye Samaké
Date of birth (1996-10-07) 7 October 1996 (age 27)
Place of birth Bamako, Mali
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Valour FC
Number 33
Youth career
Ottawa Gloucester Hornets SC
Ottawa South United
Montreal Impact
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2019 Michigan Wolverines 54 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015 FC Montreal 0 (0)
2016 Chicago Fire U23 6 (0)
2017–2018 Chicago FC United 20 (2)
2019 AFC Ann Arbor 2 (0)
2020–2022 Pacific FC 46 (0)
2023– Valour FC 17 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 6, 2023

Abdoulaye Samaké (born 7 October 1996) is a Malian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Valour FC in the Canadian Premier League.

Early life

Samaké was born in Bamako, Mali and moved to Canada, at the age of six.[1][2] He initially moved to Montreal,[3] but soon after moved to Ottawa, where he was raised.[4] Samaké began playing youth soccer with the Gloucester Hornets, before joining Ottawa South United.[5] Afterwards, he joined the Montreal Impact Academy.[6]

College career

In February 2016, he committed to join Michigan University and play for the men's soccer team in the fall.[7][8] He missed his entire freshman season in 2016 due to injury.[9] He made his debut on August 25, 2017 against the William & Mary Tribe.[10] He was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection from 2017 to 2019[11] and a two-time University of Michigan Athletic Academic Achievement selection in 2017 and 2018.[12] In his senior season, he was named to the Big Ten Conference All-Tournament Team and was named Michigan's Club Man of the Year.[13] He was able to graduate a semester early in January 2020, completing his degree in the School of Literature, Science and the Arts program.[14][15]

Club career

In July 2015, Samaké signed with the Impact's reserve side, FC Montreal, in the USL.[16][17]

In 2016, he played with the Chicago Fire U23 in the Premier Development League.[18][19]

In 2017 and 2018, he played in the Premier Development League with Chicago FC United (who replaced the Fire U23).[20][21]

In 2019, Samaké spent the season with AFC Ann Arbor of the National Premier Soccer League.[22]

In February 2020, he signed with Pacific FC on the Canadian Premier League.[23][24] In 2021, he won the CPL title with Pacific, although he did not play in the championship final due to injury suffered in the semi-final.[25][26][27] In February 2022, he re-signed with the club for another season.[28][29] In August 2022, he was named to the CPL Team of the Week.[30] After the 2022 season, he departed the club.[31]

In December 2022, he joined Valour FC for the 2023 season.[32][33] On May 13, 2023, he scored his first CPL goal against Forge FC.[34]

Career statistics

As of October 6, 2023[35]
Club statistics
Club Season League Playoffs Domestic Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
FC Montreal 2015 USL 0 0 — — — 0 0
Chicago Fire U23 2016[18] Premier Development League 6 0 — — — 6 0
Chicago FC United 2017[20] Premier Development League 10 1 — 2 0 — 12 1
2018[21] 10 1 0 0 — — 10 1
Total 20 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 22 2
AFC Ann Arbor 2019[36] National Premier Soccer League 2 0 0 0 0 0 — 2 0
Pacific FC 2020 Canadian Premier League 3 0 — — — 3 0
2021 24 0 1 0 3 0 — 28 0
2022 19 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 23 0
Total 46 0 2 0 4 0 2 0 54 0
Valour FC 2023 Canadian Premier League 17 1 — 1 0 — 18 1
Career total 91 3 2 0 7 0 2 0 102 3

Honours

Club

Pacific FC

References

  1. ^ Bâ, Mamadou (September 7, 2021). "Abdoulaye Samaké : « Jouer avec le Mali, un rêve absolu »" [Abdoulaye Samake: "Playing with Mali, an absolute dream"]. Afrik (in French).
  2. ^ Diakité, Bréhima (March 9, 2020). "Mercato : Abdou Samaké signe avec le club canadien de Pacific FC" [Mercato: Abdou Samake signs with Canadian club Pacific FC]. Reference 14 Sport (in French).
  3. ^ "Abdou Samake signs first pro contract with Pacific FC". Felkrem.
  4. ^ "Pacific FC Add Defender Abdou Samake". Pacific FC. February 21, 2020. Archived from the original on February 21, 2020.
  5. ^ "Force Academy Alumni: National Teams and Professional Players". Ottawa South United.
  6. ^ Longo, Jack (February 28, 2022). "Black History Month : Abdou Samake". Pacific FC.
  7. ^ Clark, Travis (February 9, 2016). "Boys Commitments: College variance - Abdou Samake". Top Drawer Soccer.
  8. ^ "Wolverines Ink Five to 2016 Class". Michigan Wolverines. 20 May 2016.
  9. ^ Moen, Travis (August 10, 2021). "Abdou Samake's next act". The Michigan Daily.
  10. ^ Kemps, Scott. "Penalty-Kick Goal Lifts Wolverines Over Tribe in Opener". Michigan Wolverines.
  11. ^ Tait, Ed (December 12, 2022). ""Now I feel like I'm ready for any challenge." - Player Profile: Abdou Samake". Valour FC.
  12. ^ "Abdou Samake Michigan profile". Michigan Wolverines.
  13. ^ Rudner, Brad (January 29, 2020). "Season Review: 2019 Michigan Men's Soccer". Michigan Wolverines.
  14. ^ "Faces of UMSI: Abdou Samake". University of Michigan School of Information.
  15. ^ "Abdou Samake sets a milestone in finishing his undergrad journey". Felkrem.
  16. ^ "Le FC Montréal recrute chez l'Académie" [FC Montreal recruits at the academy]. TVA Sports (in French). July 30, 2015.
  17. ^ "Le FC Montréal signe huit joueurs de l'Académie" [FC Montreal signs eight players from the Academy]. Montreal Impact (in French). July 30, 2015.
  18. ^ a b "Abdoulaye Samake 2016 PDL Stats". USL League Two.
  19. ^ "Chicago Fire U-23s Handle Kokomo Mantis 3-0 in USL PDL Play". Chicago Fire FC. June 21, 2016.
  20. ^ a b "Abdoulaye Samake 2017 PDL Stats". USL League Two.
  21. ^ a b "Abdoulaye Samake 2018 PDL Stats". USL League Two.
  22. ^ "2019 Men's Roster". AFC Ann Arbor.
  23. ^ Jacques, John (February 21, 2020). "Pacific FC Signs Defender Abdou Samake". Northern Tribune.
  24. ^ "Pacific signs Mali-born defender Abdou Samake". Canadian Premier League. 21 February 2020.
  25. ^ Bâ, Mamadou (December 9, 2021). "Abdoulaye Samaké, Champion du Canada : « Une grande fierté de gagner ce trophée »" [Abdoulaye Samake, Canadian Champion: “I am very proud to win this trophy”]. Afrik (in French).
  26. ^ Longo, Jack (February 11, 2022). "Samake Returning for 2022 Season!". Pacific FC.
  27. ^ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (December 8, 2021). "CPL50 – 47. Abdou Samake (Pacific FC)". Canadian Premier League.
  28. ^ "Abdou Samake returns to Pacific FC for 2022". Canadian Premier League. February 11, 2022.
  29. ^ Jacques, John (February 11, 2022). "Samake Sticks With Pacific". Northern Tribune.
  30. ^ "Heard, Samake and Young named to Team of the Week – Week 19". Pacific FC. August 15, 2022.
  31. ^ Jacques, John (December 9, 2022). "Abdou Samake Leaves Pacific FC". Northern Tribune.
  32. ^ "Valour FC sign Canadian defender Abdou Samake". Canadian Premier League. December 12, 2022.
  33. ^ Jacques, John (December 12, 2022). "Valour Adds Defender Abdou Samake". Northern Tribune.
  34. ^ Tait, Ed (May 13, 2023). "Post Match Report vs Forge FC". Valour FC.
  35. ^ Abdou Samaké at Soccerway
  36. ^ "2019 AFC Ann Arbor Results". AFC Ann Arbor.

External links

  • Abdou Samaké at Soccerway
  • v
  • t
  • e
Valour FC – current squad
  • Head coach: Dos Santos
  • Assistant coach: Bhindi
  • Assistant coach: Rocke
  • Goalkeeper coach: Di Stefani