Sibiri Alain Traoré (born 31 December 1988) is a Burkinabé professional footballer who plays as a striker for Arta/Solar7, 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 Auxerre. With the decision of his mother, he joined the French side instead.
On 4 January 2009, he was loaned out to Brest for six months. He returned to Auxerre on 31 June 2009.
Traoré became a central figure in the Auxerre team. In July 2012, he joined Ligue 1 side Lorient after Auxerre were relegated to Ligue 2.
On 31 January 2015, Traoré moved on loan to Monaco till the end of the 2014–15 season, with an option for 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 (in the sixth minute of injury time), 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, is a professional footballer. The two were part of the Burkina Faso squad for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
Career statistics
Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCoupe de FranceCoupe de la LigueEuropeTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAuxerre2006–07Ligue 140000000402007–08Ligue 110000000102008–09Ligue 130000000302009–10Ligue 110000000102010–11Ligue 12051010302552011–12Ligue 1279000000279Total56141010306114Brest (loan)2008–09Ligue 2143100000153Lorient2012–13Ligue 11460000001462013–14Ligue 12121000002222014–15Ligue 13000100040Total388101000408Monaco (loan)2014–15Ligue 10000000000Career total1082530203011625
International Scores and results list Burkina Faso's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Traoré goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Alain TraoréNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 8 September 2007 Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor, Dakar, Senegal 1–1 1–5 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification2 28 March 2009 Stade du 4 Août, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso 2–0 4–2 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification3 11 August 2010 Stade Municipal de Senlis, Senlis, France 3–0 3–0 Friendly4 6 September 2010 Stade Maurice Chevalier, Cannes, France 1–1 1–1 Friendly5 26 March 2011 Stade du 4 Août, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso 1–0 4–0 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification6 2–07 4–08 4 June 2011 Independence Stadium, Windhoek, Namibia 3–0 4–1 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification9 3 September 2011 Stade du 4 Août, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso 1–0 1–0 Friendly10 22 January 2012 Estadio de Malabo, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea 1–1 1–2 2012 Africa Cup of Nations11 14 October 2012 Stade du 4 Août, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso 1–1 3–1 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification12 3–113 21 January 2013 Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa 1–1 1–1 2013 Africa Cup of Nations14 25 January 2013 Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa 1–0 4–0 2013 Africa Cup of Nations15 2–016 5 March 2014 Stade Francis Turcan, Martigues, France 1–0 1–1 Friendly17 6 September 2014 Stade du 4 Août, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso 2–0 2–0 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification18 10 January 2015 Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa 1–1 5–1 Friendly19 5 June 2016 Stade de Beaumer, Moroni, Comoros 2–0 2–0 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification20 4 February 2017 Stade de Port-Gentil, Port-Gentil, Gabon 1–0 1–0 2017 Africa Cup of Nations21 7 October 2017 FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa 1–3 1–3 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
Honors RS Berkane CAF Confederation Cup: 2019–20
Burkina Faso Africa Cup of Nations bronze: 2017
References
External links Official website of Alain Traoré (archived 31 May 2012) Alain Traoré Lorient profile