It's the story of a life, maybe two lives! Seeing Sadio Mané , it's almost certain, Désiré Segbe Azankpo is not far away. The Beninese is not part of the staff of the African champion, he is not family either, but rather a "consubstantial" friend.
Trained at the Benin Foot Academy in Cotonou, Désiré Segbe Azankpo was spotted in 2009 by a recruiter from FC Metz. The Beninese striker will leave Cotonou to join the Génération foot center in Dakar, partner of the French club, FC Metz. At Génération Football, Azankpo who understood nothing in Wolof met… Sadio Mané. The latter helps him to understand Wolof and to communicate with his teammates and certain technicians.
“Sadio and I met when I arrived at Génération Foot in Dakar. It immediately matched us. He was very protective of me. I did not understand the language, the mentalities. And I was in a new world. He translated things for me into Wolof, he helped me with everything, on and off the pitch. It happened naturally. We were together all the time, even on the bus,” explained the Beninese striker in a recent interview with France Football.
A strong bond of loyalty to Metz...
The best players from the Génération Foot center do not stay in Dakar. In addition to being accomplices off the pitch, Sadio Mané and Désiré Azankpo were also two of the best attackers in the highly regarded center in Dakar. These two "friends" must then pursue their dream in France, especially in the Messin club.
Sadio Mané first joined Metz and a few months later, the now ex-Liverpool star will welcome in "his room", a luxury roommate: his lifelong friend, Desiré Segbe Azankpo. “Then we came to Metz, him a few months before me. Metz was aware of our friendship. As a result, we were allowed to share room 16 in the center, knowing that there were two of us per room. I arrived there and so I had my place reserved , ”adds the Squirrel.
“Afterwards, he was transferred to Austria to Red Bull Salzburg. We continued to support each other from a distance. We were very attached to each other and still are. And we called each other on Skype at the time. Until today, we spend a lot of our free time in Facetime. When I had free time and it was possible, I went to see him in England. The same goes for him the other way around. This friendship holds because it is natural. I am his worst opponent in games. He can lose to everyone but me, and vice versa. When we play, it's fire! “ Adds Azankpo .
Azankpo, a true miracle of football
Those who knew his beginnings in Cotonou and Dakar know that Désiré Segbe Azankpo was a rare talent. A training centre-forward, the Beninese had enormous potential. At Génération Foot and FC Metz, Sadio Mané and him formed an infernal duo. But how to explain that one is part of the Top 5 of the best players in the world and the other, a real total flop?
Well, Segbe Azankpo's career almost ended before it even started. At a certain period of his young career, the Beninese chained injuries and saw his progress abruptly halted. The doctors even told him that he had better give up his dream of playing football given the severity of his injuries. However, Azankpo never gave up!
“I was injured and the specialists told me it was over. So I asked them if they were God? No lie to you, I went home, prayed and worked my ass off and today God rewarded me. Today, I'm on my feet, I'm running, I'm playing and that's already a very good victory,”
Despite this second chance, Azankpo never regained his former form. The once talented Beninese is struggling to stabilize and has a string of freelances in National, Ligue 2 and even in English League 2.
“I got a serious injury when I arrived at FC Metz which really slowed me down. After having crossed paths, I came back well but at the time the club put forward other young people, which is normal. However, I came back better than the club hopes. The coach took me for friendly matches, without giving me a chance in the league. It frustrated me a lot. And I left in January 2014 while I was still under contract. Still, I felt ready. Honestly, I think that at the time I was not necessarily well advised and I canceled. I could have made other choices maybe…”
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