From our football correspondent
Steady
Scoring charts1 Jan 2028
5 goals in 4 games, and nobody else in the league close to it. Stade Malien have the man every defence in the division is planning around.
Scoring charts1 Jan 2028
Player of the month: Taddeus Nkeng — 8.73
Everybody in the division was measured and a US Bougouni man came out on top: 8.73 across the month and 8 goal contributions. There is no serious case for anybody else.
Scoring charts1 Jan 2028
Mamoutou Berthé is the month's best young player — 7.84
The award the rest of the division reads as a transfer rumour. 7.84 over the month and 4 goal contributions, from a US Bougouba player whose price has just gone up without anybody at his club doing anything.
Market1 Jan 2028
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Etoiles du Mande, and it is not being withdrawn.
Scoring charts1 Jan 2028
Moussakoye Diallo leads the division for assists — 8.13
The chart that decides who the scorers ought to be thanking. 4 of them made by a Stade Malien player marked 8.13, and not one will be in the montage at the end of the season.
Scoring charts1 Jan 2028
Best marks in the division for Taddeus Nkeng — 8.73
8.73 on average across 4 matches for US Bougouni. The chart that notices the players a goal tally never does, and this month it noticed him.
Scoring charts1 Jan 2028
4 appearances, 4 goals, and a place among the division's leading scorers for the month. Strikers measure a season in exactly these lines.
Scoring charts1 Jan 2028
4 in 4 for Afrique Foot Elite. Nobody outside his own ground is talking about him, which tends to be true of everybody on this list except the man at the top of it.
Scoring charts1 Jan 2028
4 goals in 4 appearances for Binga, and a chart that would look very different if two of them had gone in off the post instead of past it.
Scoring charts1 Jan 2028
4 appearances, 4 goals, and a place among the division's leading scorers for the month. Strikers measure a season in exactly these lines.
Market1 Jan 2028
“They were honest with me, and I would rather know.” Koro Coulibaly has been informed he is not in the manager's thinking at Stade Malien.
Market1 Jan 2028
He signed expecting a bigger stage than the one he found. It has not taken long, and it has not taken the dressing room long to notice either.
Back issues
From our football correspondent
Steady
Scoring charts1 Dec 2027
Nobody in the division bettered it last month: 5 goals in 4 appearances for Djoliba.
Scoring charts1 Dec 2027
Taddeus Nkeng is the division's player of the month — 8.56
A club's paper reports this as one of its own being honoured. On this page it is what it actually is: a verdict on everybody who played, and it went to a US Bougouni man on 8.56 with 6 goal contributions.
Scoring charts1 Dec 2027
Appolinaire Bougma is the month's best young player — 7.71
The award the rest of the division reads as a transfer rumour. 7.71 over the month and 5 goal contributions, from a Binga player whose price has just gone up without anybody at his club doing anything.
Market1 Dec 2027
“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.
Scoring charts1 Dec 2027
Nobody made more than Aboubacar Sidibé this month
4 assists, 7.85, and a Djoliba player who spent four weekends being the reason somebody else's name went in the paper. It is the least-rewarded skill in football and the easiest one to notice its absence.
Scoring charts1 Dec 2027
Best marks in the division for Moussakoye Diallo — 8.73
8.73 on average across 2 matches for Stade Malien. The chart that notices the players a goal tally never does, and this month it noticed him.
Scoring charts1 Dec 2027
3 goals in 4 appearances for Binga leave him among the month's leading marksmen.
Scoring charts1 Dec 2027
4 in 4 for Afrique Foot Elite. Nobody outside his own ground is talking about him, which tends to be true of everybody on this list except the man at the top of it.
Scoring charts1 Dec 2027
5 goals in 4 appearances for Djoliba, and a chart that would look very different if two of them had gone in off the post instead of past it.
Scoring charts1 Dec 2027
5 in 4 for US Bougouni. Nobody outside his own ground is talking about him, which tends to be true of everybody on this list except the man at the top of it.
Market1 Dec 2027
No place for Adama Traoré in the plan
“The manager did not use many words, and he did not need to.” Adama Traoré has his answer from Real Bamako; what he does with it is the next window’s story.
Market1 Dec 2027
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Kalifa Coulibaly signs something — a contract at Djoliba or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Scoring charts1 Nov 2027
9 goals in 5 games, and nobody else in the league close to it. Real Bamako have the man every defence in the division is planning around.
Scoring charts1 Nov 2027
Everybody in the division was measured and a Real Bamako man came out on top: 9.04 across the month and 14 goal contributions. There is no serious case for anybody else.
Scoring charts1 Nov 2027
Young player of the month: Achille Kouadio — 7.53
7.53 across the month and 4 goal contributions from a Afrique Foot Elite player everybody else in the division now has a file on. His price rose this month without anybody at his club lifting a finger.
Scoring charts1 Nov 2027
Zoumana Simpara leads the division for assists — 8.70
The chart that decides who the scorers ought to be thanking. 6 of them made by a Real Bamako player marked 8.70, and not one will be in the montage at the end of the season.
Market1 Nov 2027
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Real Bamako, and it is not being withdrawn.
Scoring charts1 Nov 2027
Best marks in the division for Djibril Coulibaly — 9.04
9.04 on average across 5 matches for Real Bamako. The chart that notices the players a goal tally never does, and this month it noticed him.
Scoring charts1 Nov 2027
6 goals in 5 appearances for US Bougouni leave him among the month's leading marksmen.
Scoring charts1 Nov 2027
Malick Touré up among the month's scorers
A productive month at Djoliba — 4 goals from 5 appearances, and a place near the top of the charts.
Scoring charts1 Nov 2027
7 goals in 5 appearances for Real Bamako leave him among the month's leading marksmen.
Scoring charts1 Nov 2027
4 goals in 5 appearances for Djoliba, and a chart that would look very different if two of them had gone in off the post instead of past it.
Market1 Nov 2027
“We are a long way apart, and pretending otherwise helps nobody.” Neither side is close, and the calendar is not on the club's side.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Market1 Oct 2027
“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.
Market1 Oct 2027
The offer was not close and it was refused without much discussion. Whether the second one is refused as quickly is another matter.
Market1 Oct 2027
“There is a gap, and pretending there is not helps nobody.” Neither side has moved, and the calendar is working for exactly one of them.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Market1 Sep 2027
“It was not right for me. I am not going to explain why to anybody except the people I owe an explanation to.” A deal agreed between two clubs, and a player who declined to be part of it.
Market1 Sep 2027
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at AS Korofina, and it is not being withdrawn.
Market1 Sep 2027
The offer was not close and it was refused without much discussion. Whether the second one is refused as quickly is another matter.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Market1 Aug 2027
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Djoliba can pretend not to have heard.
Market1 Aug 2027
Fee agreed, wages agreed, and Wa All Stars waiting with a shirt. Nobody at Real Bamako is pretending otherwise, and the supporters have stopped asking whether and started asking when.
Market1 Aug 2027
The offer was not close and it was refused without much discussion. Whether the second one is refused as quickly is another matter.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Market1 Jul 2027
“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.
Market1 Jul 2027
Djoliba say no — this time
The offer from Aris for Kalifa Coulibaly was heard out and sent back the same day. First bids are rarely meant to succeed; they are meant to find out how loudly the door closes.
Market1 Jul 2027
“I know what people will say. I know what I want, and it is here.” Dynamo Douala had the fee agreed and the shirt ready; they did not have the player, and now they will not.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Market1 Jun 2027
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at US Bougouba, and it is not being withdrawn.
Market1 Jun 2027
“They were honest with me, and I would rather know.” Moussa Sissoko has been informed he is not in the manager's thinking at Real Bamako.
Market1 Jun 2027
“There is a gap, and pretending there is not helps nobody.” Neither side has moved, and the calendar is working for exactly one of them.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Market1 May 2027
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at US Bougouba, and it is not being withdrawn.
Market1 May 2027
“They were honest with me, and I would rather know.” Bakary Coulibaly has been informed he is not in the manager's thinking at Binga.
Market1 May 2027
“There is a gap, and pretending there is not helps nobody.” Neither side has moved, and the calendar is working for exactly one of them.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Scoring charts1 Apr 2027
Bourama Boiré is the division’s leading scorer
6 goals in 4 games, and nobody else in the league close to it. Binga have the man every defence in the division is planning around.
Scoring charts1 Apr 2027
Marked 8.61 across it, 9 goals and assists between them, and no serious argument from anybody else in the division. Binga have had the whole benefit of a month somebody else will spend the summer trying to buy.
Scoring charts1 Apr 2027
Young player of the month: Malick Djiguiba — 8.09
8.09 across the month and 5 goal contributions from a Real Bamako player everybody else in the division now has a file on. His price rose this month without anybody at his club lifting a finger.
Market1 Apr 2027
“It was not right for me. I am not going to explain why to anybody except the people I owe an explanation to.” A deal agreed between two clubs, and a player who declined to be part of it.
Market1 Apr 2027
The offer from Breidablik for Moussakoye Diallo was heard out and sent back the same day. First bids are rarely meant to succeed; they are meant to find out how loudly the door closes.
Market1 Apr 2027
Papa Gassama hands in a written request
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Binga can pretend not to have heard.
Scoring charts1 Apr 2027
The division’s top provider is Bourama Boiré — 8.61
3 assists across the month from a Binga player marked 8.61. Somebody has to open the door before anybody walks through it, and nobody in the league opened more.
Scoring charts1 Apr 2027
Highest marks in the league belong to a Stade Malien man
Abdoul Salam Dembélé averaged 9.20 over 2 appearances. Nothing about that will trend, and anybody who watched all four games would tell you it was the most accurate thing on this page.
Scoring charts1 Apr 2027
4 goals in 2 appearances for Stade Malien, and a chart that would look very different if two of them had gone in off the post instead of past it.
Scoring charts1 Apr 2027
5 in 4 for Real Bamako. Nobody outside his own ground is talking about him, which tends to be true of everybody on this list except the man at the top of it.
Scoring charts1 Apr 2027
5 in 4 for Djoliba. Nobody outside his own ground is talking about him, which tends to be true of everybody on this list except the man at the top of it.
Scoring charts1 Apr 2027
5 goals in 4 appearances for AS Police, and a chart that would look very different if two of them had gone in off the post instead of past it.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Scoring charts1 Mar 2027
Kalifa Coulibaly is the division’s leading scorer
10 goals in 4 games, and nobody else in the league close to it. Djoliba have the man every defence in the division is planning around.
Scoring charts1 Mar 2027
Everybody in the division was measured and a Djoliba man came out on top: 9.62 across the month and 12 goal contributions. There is no serious case for anybody else.
Scoring charts1 Mar 2027
Daouda Togola is the month's best young player — 7.50
The award the rest of the division reads as a transfer rumour. 7.50 over the month and 3 goal contributions, from a FC Diarra player whose price has just gone up without anybody at his club doing anything.
Market1 Mar 2027
The offer was not close and it was refused without much discussion. Whether the second one is refused as quickly is another matter.
Market1 Mar 2027
“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.
Scoring charts1 Mar 2027
The division’s top provider is Ousmane Coulibaly — 8.13
5 assists across the month from a Stade Malien player marked 8.13. Somebody has to open the door before anybody walks through it, and nobody in the league opened more.
Market1 Mar 2027
“I know what people will say. I know what I want, and it is here.” Stade Malien had the fee agreed and the shirt ready; they did not have the player, and now they will not.
Scoring charts1 Mar 2027
Djibril Coulibaly is the division's best-marked player — 9.85
The chart that catches everybody a goal tally never will: the centre-half who was immense for four weekends, the holding midfielder nobody outside his own ground has heard of. 9.85 across 2 matches for Real Bamako.
Scoring charts1 Mar 2027
8 goals in 4 appearances for Stade Malien, and a chart that would look very different if two of them had gone in off the post instead of past it.
Scoring charts1 Mar 2027
A productive month at Real Bamako — 6 goals from 2 appearances, and a place near the top of the charts.
Scoring charts1 Mar 2027
5 in 4 for Stade Malien. Nobody outside his own ground is talking about him, which tends to be true of everybody on this list except the man at the top of it.
Scoring charts1 Mar 2027
4 appearances, 4 goals, and a place among the division's leading scorers for the month. Strikers measure a season in exactly these lines.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Scoring charts1 Feb 2027
The month closes with Kalifa Coulibaly out in front — 8 goals in 5 games, and Djoliba have the division's most feared finisher.
Scoring charts1 Feb 2027
Marked 8.92 across it, 11 goals and assists between them, and no serious argument from anybody else in the division. Stade Malien have had the whole benefit of a month somebody else will spend the summer trying to buy.
Scoring charts1 Feb 2027
Daouda Togola is the month's best young player — 8.04
The award the rest of the division reads as a transfer rumour. 8.04 over the month and 7 goal contributions, from a FC Diarra player whose price has just gone up without anybody at his club doing anything.
Market1 Feb 2027
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what AS Bakaridjan can pretend not to have heard.
Market1 Feb 2027
The clubs have settled the fee and he has settled his wages. What remains is a medical and a photograph, and around Stade Malien people have started saying his name in the past tense.
Market1 Feb 2027
The offer from Djoliba for Abdoul Salam Dembélé was heard out and sent back the same day. First bids are rarely meant to succeed; they are meant to find out how loudly the door closes.
Scoring charts1 Feb 2027
Zoumana Simpara leads the division for assists — 7.88
The chart that decides who the scorers ought to be thanking. 5 of them made by a Real Bamako player marked 7.88, and not one will be in the montage at the end of the season.
Market1 Feb 2027
“It was not right for me. I am not going to explain why to anybody except the people I owe an explanation to.” A deal agreed between two clubs, and a player who declined to be part of it.
Scoring charts1 Feb 2027
Moussakoye Diallo is the division's best-marked player — 8.92
The chart that catches everybody a goal tally never will: the centre-half who was immense for four weekends, the holding midfielder nobody outside his own ground has heard of. 8.92 across 5 matches for Stade Malien.
Scoring charts1 Feb 2027
A productive month at Stade Malien — 4 goals from 5 appearances, and a place near the top of the charts.
Scoring charts1 Feb 2027
7 goals in 5 appearances for FC Diarra, and a chart that would look very different if two of them had gone in off the post instead of past it.
Scoring charts1 Feb 2027
A productive month at Real Bamako — 6 goals from 3 appearances, and a place near the top of the charts.