Burkina Faso and Lens goalkeeper Hervé Koffi signs on loan with fellow Ligue 1 club

Photo: Burkinabe Football Federation

After a difficult first season with RC Lens, Burkina Faso national team number one goalkeeper Hervé Koffi will attempt to earn more regular playing time at Angers SCO after his loan to the French Ligue 1 club was confirmed on Monday.

Koffi moved to Lens for €2.5 million ahead of the 2024-25 season but remained as the backup to incumbent Brice Samba for the first half of the campaign while struggling with injuries. After Samba moved to Stade Rennais in January, Lens overlooked Koffi to sign Australia national team shot stopper Mathew Ryan for the second half of the season.

Outside of a spell of six games in January and early February, Koffi remained rooted to the bench and was even demoted to play with Lens' reserve team at the end of the season. At Angers, Yahia Fofana is the incumbent but with plenty of interest in the Ivory Coast keeper there is a decent opportunity for Koffi to establish himself for the mid-table Ligue 1 side.

Angers finished 14th in the 18-team French top flight last season. Koffi will hope to find regular playing time before Burkina Faso takes part at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, set to begin in late December.