Alain Traoré


Sibiri Alain Traoré is a Burkinabé footballer who plays as a striker for Nahdat Berkane, and the Burkina Faso national team. He started his career with local side Planète Champion, before moving to France as a 17-year-old.

Club career

Traoré began his career with Planète Champion in his homeland. He came to prominence whilst playing for Burkina Faso in the 2005 African U-17 Championship, with his performances earning him a one-month trial with English Premier League side Manchester United. He impressed in his trials, but was not able to sign for them due to work permit issues. He had the option of going on loan to a Belgian club, but also had interest from French Ligue 1 side AJ Auxerre. With the decision of his mother, he joined the French side instead.
On 4 January 2009, he was loaned out to Stade Brestois 29 for six months. He returned to AJ Auxerre on 31 June 2009.
Traoré became a central figure in the Auxerre team. In July 2012, he joined Ligue 1 side FC Lorient after Auxerre were relegated to Ligue 2.
On 31 January 2015, Traoré moved on loan to AS Monaco FC till the end of the 2014–15 season, with an option for AS Monaco to make the deal permanent.
In July 2018, he joined Moroccan team RS Berkane on a free transfer and was part of their Confederation Cup participating side. He also scored a goal in their Confederation Cup group stage match against Sudanese team Al-Hilal.

International career

Traoré represented Burkina Faso at under-17 level, where they qualified for the 2005 African U-17 Championship. He scored one goal in the 3–1 defeat to Mali. He also scored one goal in the 2012 African Cup of Nations, versus Angola. He scored the goal, which took Burkina Faso through to the 2013 African Cup of Nations at the expense of the Central African Republic, and then scored three goals in the 2013 final tournament itself.
On 4 February 2017, Traoré scored a wonderful free kick against Ghana in the third-place playoff in the 2017 Africa cup of nations in Gabon. The goal was scored in the 89th minute and went on to win the bronze medal for Burkina Faso.

Personal life

Traoré's younger brother, Bertrand, plays for French club Lyon. The two were part of the Burkina Faso squad for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Career statistics

Club

International goals

NoDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.8 September 2007Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor, Dakar, Senegal1–11–52008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
2.28 March 2009Stade du 4 Août, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso2–04–22010 FIFA World Cup qualification
3.11 August 2010Stade Municipal de Senlis, Senlis, France3–03–0Friendly
4.6 September 2010Stade Maurice Chevalier, Cannes, France1–11–1Friendly
5.26 March 2011Stade du 4 Août, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso1–04–02012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
6.26 March 2011Stade du 4 Août, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso2–04–02012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
7.26 March 2011Stade du 4 Août, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso4–04–02012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
8.4 June 2011Independence Stadium, Windhoek, Namibia3–04–12012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
9.3 September 2011Stade du 4 Août, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso1–01–0Friendly
10.22 January 2012Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea1–11–22012 Africa Cup of Nations
11.14 October 2012Stade du 4 Août, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso1–13–12013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
12.14 October 2012Stade du 4 Août, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso3–13–12013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
13.21 January 2013Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa1–11–12013 Africa Cup of Nations
14.25 January 2013Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa1–04–02013 Africa Cup of Nations
15.25 January 2013Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa2–04–02013 Africa Cup of Nations
16.5 March 2014Stade Francis Turcan, Martigues, France1–01–1Friendly
17.6 September 2014Stade du 4 Août, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso2–02–02015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
18.10 January 2015Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa1–15–1Friendly
19.5 June 2016Stade de Beaumer, Moroni, Comoros2–02–02017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
20.4 February 2017Stade de Port-Gentil, Port-Gentil, Gabon1–01–02017 Africa Cup of Nations
21.7 October 2017FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa1–31–32018 FIFA World Cup qualification