Aboubakary Koïta
Aboubakary Yeli Koïta (born 20 September 1998) is a Mauritanian footballer who plays as a winger for AEK Athens in Greece and for the Mauritania national team. He was born in Pikine, Senegal, and grew up in Belgium with a Mauritanian-Malian father and a Senegalese mother.
Club career
- Koïta started in youth football with FC Merksem (2011–2012), Lyra-Lierse Berlaar (2012–2014), and ASV Geel (2014–2016).
- He broke into the first team at ASV Geel in 2016–2017, before moving to Gent in 2017.
- He made his Gent debut on 13 May 2018 in a 1–0 win over Anderlecht.
- In July 2019, Koïta signed a four-year deal with Waasland-Beveren, where he helped the team in their fight against relegation.
- He joined Sint-Truidense (Sint-Truiden) on 19 June 2021, playing regularly over three seasons.
- On 9 July 2024, Koïta moved to AEK Athens for about €4 million with a 10% resale clause and a contract through 2029. The transfer was officially announced four days later.
International career
- Born in Senegal to a Mauritanian-Malian father and a Senegalese mother, Koïta chose to represent Mauritania in 2023.
- He made his Mauritania debut on 15 November 2023 in a World Cup qualifier against the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2–0 defeat).
- In December 2023, he was named in Mauritania’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.
- As of September 2025, he has earned around 20 caps and scored 3 goals for Mauritania.
Career statistics (highlights)
- Club career totals across all competitions: 146 appearances and 25 goals.
- In the Belgian Pro League, he has 123 league appearances and 21 league goals.
- For Sint-Truidense, he played 90 league games and scored 18 goals.
- For AEK Athens, he has contributed in league and other competitions since 2024.
Koïta is known for his pace and attacking instincts on the wing, with a career that has seen him grow from Belgian youth systems to a prominent role in Greece and Mauritania’s national team.
This page was last edited on 1 February 2026, at 23:10 (CET).