Niakaté gives Baniyas the edge in surprise UAE Pro League win at Sharjah

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Youssoufou Niakaté is a perfect example of an African player who has thrived in the leagues of the Gulf region and the French-Malian striker was in peak form as Baniyas stunned hosts Sharjah 2-1 on Thursday.

It appeared the midtable club were destined for disaster when Fawaz Awana received a red card in the 14th minute. However, Niakaté inspired a shock two-goal burst late in the first half when the veteran marksman ran onto a ball over the top and set up Brazilian midfielder Saile for the opening goal.

Niakaté then displayed his best skill, his ability to poach goals. Less than three minutes after his assist, Niakaté collected a loose ball 35 yards from goal and produced a low finish with his left foot to complete a stunning first half for the visitors.

Sharjah, who advanced to the final of the AFC Champions League Two earlier this month, used a rotated squad on Thursday but were forced to bring on their stars at halftime. including Tunisian playmaker Firas Ben Larbi. It was a lackluster effort for the day from the hosts who created little in the second half despite their numerical advantage and could only get one goal back in the 69th minute.

The victory further secures Baniyas' top flight status, leaving them nine points clear of the relegation zone with four matches remaining. Niakaté, whose form in the Gulf earned him a surprise place in Mali's 2023 Africa Cup of Nations squad, now has 11 goals and 4 assists in 20 matches this season for Baniyas. The 32-year-old also featured as a substitute for Mali in their March fixtures from 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying.