Sahid Ngobi: "My idol? Kylian Mbappé"

Exclusive

Breakout star of the Celtiis Benin Ligue 1 with 10 goals and 2 assists in 17 matchdays.

Sahid Ngobi: "My idol? Kylian Mbappé"

If you had to sum up Sahid Ngobi in a single image, it would be that of a striker driven by a clear role model. The top scorer of the first half of the Celtiis Benin Ligue 1 with 10 goals and 2 assists for Association Sportive du Port Autonome de Cotonou (ASPAC FC), the Kandi native is building his career inspired by a name that makes an entire generation dream: Kylian Mbappé.

"My idol is Kylian Mbappé. I admire his mentality, his personal standards, his maturity, and his consistency," confides the U20 international forward. These values echo in his attitude on the pitch: always on the move, always hungry, never satisfied.

I was given my league debut by Dynamo de Parakou. Then I moved on to AS Takunnin, SOBEMAP FC, and now I’m at ASPAC FC.

This evolution extends beyond club football. Youth national teams, especially with the U20s, have broadened his horizons:

In the youth squads, I worked with players who today are a real motivation for those of us still playing in the domestic league. These experiences have taught me a lot, both as a player and as a person.

With 10 goals and 2 assists, ASPAC's number 19 leads the statistics for the first half of the season in Benin. But far from getting carried away, he keeps his feet on the ground:

Alhamdoulillah first of all, but personally I don't think I'm efficient enough yet. Given the chances I get, I know I can do better.

But Sahid Ngobi's dreams are as big as his character. "On a personal level, my biggest dream is to remain a good human being and to give to others. In football, I want to work even harder, stay humble and demanding. The rest is in God's hands," he says. And when asked about a dream club, one name stands out: Arsenal.

As the second half of the season kicks off on February 28, all eyes will naturally be on Saïd Ngobi, who has become the player to watch in the Beninese league for the remainder of the campaign.