
Photo: FC CSKA 1948
Mamadou Diallo is a strong candidate for top scorer in Bulgaria’s efbet League and the Mauritania international provided the only goal on Friday in CSKA 1948 Sofia’s 1-0 victory over Botev Vratsa.
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After seven years spent in the lower leagues of French football, the 29-year-old continues to enjoy a successful first season abroad in Bulgaria. The powerful forward arrived at the far post to tap in after Atanas Ilieve flicked a corner kick in Diallo’s direction.
Thanks in part to the heroics of Diallo, the club are now a point ahead of the similarly named CSKA Sofia. After finishing last season’s campaign in the Bulgarian top flight’s relegation group, the club from the capital are guaranteed to qualify for continental competition next season will compete in the championship group reserved for the top-4 clubs through thirty rounds.
Diallo, currently on 15 goals and 3 assists from 28 league matches with 2 more goals added in the cup this season, is only one goal back of co-leading scorers Ivaylo Chochev and Everton Bala. His club will play the final fixture of the regular season at Cherno More next Wednesday before the league divides into groups for the final phases.
The Mauritanian international grew up in France, making his breakthrough in the country’s fifth level National 3 with Le Blanc-Mesnil Sport Football when he scored twenty goals during the 2021-22 season.
He gradually rose up to the third tier Championnat National, where a successful season with Chateauroux saw him score 12 goals in 29 matches before joining CSKA 1948 this season on a free transfer.
🚨⚽️ Le DOUBLÉ de Mamadou Diallo 🇲🇷 face a Dijon en images. #Mamadou | #Diallo | #Mauritanie | #Chateauroux https://t.co/1KsdEnq66p pic.twitter.com/0syVyum35I
— 𝗗𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗟𝗢𝗨𝗙𝗢𝗢𝗧 🇲🇷 (@DALILOUFOOT) May 3, 2025
Diallo made his debut for Mauritania as a substitute in a 0-2 defeat against Egypt during 2024 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying. He featured in three 2026 World Cup qualifying matches and was given the start in the country’s 1-2 defeat to Argentina in Buenos Aires, playing the first half in an historic match for Al Mourabitounes.