First division

“Momo is a rare goalkeeper. He intelligently protects his space so that he can find solutions before situations become dangerous. He doesn’t just make saves. He does everything he can to avoid having to make any,” analyzes the man who spent 15 years at Chelsea. And who discovered the new Charleroi goalkeeper while he was stagnating in the fifth French division with the Havre reserve team.In mid-December, I arrived in Dunkirk. We were looking for a goalkeeper. I scouted 30 to 35 and Mohamed was the only one who called me.”

guillement

I scouted 30 to 35 goalkeepers and Mohamed was the only one who called out to me.

The Frenchman’s sharp and experienced eye stopped on a last bulwark who, at 21, had only played one professional match under his belt. It was in the Coupe de France against Caen in January 2024 just before his departure for the north of France.He conceded a goal where he was at fault. Paradoxically, I loved that because it taught me a lot about him.”

A month after his arrival, the one who was loaned by Le Havre settled permanently in the Maritimes goal. His induction as number 1 coincided with the beautiful rise in the ranking of the Dunkirk who left the red zone after 9 games without defeat including 6 with Koné in the team.

For five days, the Ivorian international hopeful with an incredible career has distinguished himself by what made him known in France: his reading of the game in aerial exits.That’s his strong point. Do you know why he’s good at it? It’s because of his starting position, before the player crosses. There, he already starts to take up space. And then his movements do the rest. In Dunkirk, he did that so well that eventually, opponents watched him and stopped crossing into his intervention zones, which de facto kept the danger away.”

It was also observed that the native of Adjamé did not hesitate to communicate constantly while guiding his defenders.At first, his voice was not raised. Given our precarious position in the standings, I insisted that he speak with his partners. If you don’t share what you see, it’s useless. In the end, he ended the matches speechless,” smiles the man who shaped Petr Cech at Rennes and then at the Blues.

But how did the Zebras manage to convince him to come to Hainaut? First of all, there was the know-how of Cédric Berthelin who quickly noticed him when he was taking his first steps in Ligue 2. Circumstances did the rest.The biggest mistake in this case was made by Le Havre. A nugget is something you keep and refine, Judge Lollichon. Charleroi has made a very good deal. If he continues like this, he is a guy who will be negotiated for a minimum of five million euros in the future.”

guillement

The biggest mistake in this case was made by Le Havre.

If he would have preferred “that he stays in Ligue 2 with us to do a full year with the status of number 1″the goalkeeping coach believes that his former pupil has made a wise choice.I would have liked to keep him. Being good over 15 games is possible, but over a whole season, it’s still a level to reach and he can reach it. Doing a full year in the Belgian first division seems interesting to me.”

With areas that can logically be improved to work on.”He needs to consolidate his footwork, especially his left foot, so that it’s more natural. And use his rolled arm more. He can make exceptional 50-metre clearances by hand. He needs to use it more.”

To definitively validate a recruitment that smells like one of the summer transfers.