Football - Angers: Hervé Koffi's incredible season
For Hervé Koffi, happiness lies in the loan. The Burkinabé goalkeeper travels with Angers to Abbé Deschamps this Sunday (15:15 GMT) to face Auxerre (32nd day) as a candidate for the UNFP Trophy of the best goalkeeper of the season in Ligue 1, confirming a status that has changed far from Lens.
Philemon MBALE · Author profile ·
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Hervé Koffi among the 5 best goalkeepers in Ligue 1
With the emergence of the young Robin Risser, RC Lens decided to send Hervé Koffi to Angers, a club that seems to play for survival. For the Burkinabe goalkeeper, it was a double-edged sword. Surpassing oneself to help keep the Scoists in the elite, or falling into disappointment and going down to Ligue 2. But the Stallion chose the first option.
Before the decisive match for the last defence tonight against Auxerre, Hervé Koffi has 10 clean sheets in 27 matches in Ligue 1. It’s the third highest total for a goalkeeper this season behind Lyon’s Dominik Greif (11) and Lille’s Berke Özer (12) with three games left to go.
Moreover, Hervé Koffi is the goalkeeper with the most saves in Ligue 1 this season (109), far ahead of Anthony Lopes (93 - Nantes) and Donovan Léon (91 - Auxerre). Performances that allowed him to be named among the five best goalkeepers of the championship alongside Robin Risser (Lens), Dominik Greif (OL), Brice Samba (Rennes) and Mike Penders (Strasbourg).
The top 5 best performances for an African goalkeeper to look for
While waiting to know the winner of the UNFP Trophy on May 11, Hervé Koffi has three matches to aim for the top 5 in terms of the most clean sheets for an African goalkeeper in Ligue 1 in the 21st century.
With his 10 clean sheets in 27 games, the Burkinabe is currently 6th behind the Senegalese Alfred Gomis, who produced 10 clean sheets in 25 games during the 2021/22 season with Stade Rennais.
Ranking of African goalkeepers with the highest number of clean sheets in Ligue 1 in the 21st century
Enyema: 21 clean sheets in 38 games (2013/14 - Lille) - also all-time record tied with Joseph-Antoine Bell (92/93 - 21 in 38 games with Saint-Étienne)
Tony Silva: 17 clean sheets in 32 games (2005/06 - Lille)
Tony Silva: 16 clean sheets in 38 games (2004/05 - Lille)
Yehvann Diouf: 14 clean sheets in 31 games (2022/23 - Nice)
Edouard Mendy: 14 clean sheets in 38 games (2018/19 - Reims)
Alfred Gomis: 10 clean sheets in 25 games (2021/22 - Rennes)
Hervé Koffi: 10 clean sheets in 27 games (2025/26 - Angers) - Ongoing series
Yahia Fofana: 7 clean sheets in 33 games (2024/25 - Angers)
What future for Hervé Koffi?
Once the season is over, the question of Hervé Koffi’s future will quickly arise. The managers of the SCO in Angers are very satisfied with the season on loan from the 29-year-old goalkeeper and could offer a permanent transfer to the Artesians, knowing that the Burkinabe has been lent without an option to purchase.
However, the final decision will be taken by RC Lens, where Koffi is under contract until 2028, even if Robin Risser seems well on track to occupy the position of No. 1 for many years.
One thing is certain. If he doesn’t definitely join Angers during the next summer transfer window, Hervé Koffi will not lack offers to continue to shine under other skies.