Wilfried Zahibo

Wilfried Aimeric Jocelyn Ziri Zahibo (born 21 August 1993) is a footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for New England Revolution in Major League Soccer. Born in France, Zahibo represents the Central African Republic national football team.

Wilfried Zahibo
Personal information
Full name Wilfried Aimeric Jocelyn Ziri Zahibo[1]
Date of birth (1993-08-21) 21 August 1993
Place of birth Marseille, France
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position(s) Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current team
 New England Revolution
Number 23
Youth career
2009–2012 Ajaccio
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Ajaccio B 26 (0)
2013 Ajaccio 0 (0)
2013–2014 Fuenlabrada 19 (0)
2014–2016 Valencia B 68 (3)
2015–2016 Valencia 2 (0)
2016–2018 Gimnàstic 21 (0)
2018– New England Revolution 55 (5)
National team
2019– Central African Republic 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Born in Marseille, Zahibo was an AC Ajaccio youth graduate, and made his senior debut with the reserves in the 2011–12 season, in the Championnat de France amateur. He first appeared with the first team on 5 January 2013, starting and scoring in a 1–1 away draw against FC Rouen for the Coupe de France (2–3 loss on penalties).[2]

Zahibo rejected a new contract in the middle of 2013, after expressing his desire to play in Spain, and subsequently joined Segunda División B club CF Fuenlabrada.[3] On 24 January 2014, he signed a two-year deal with Valencia CF, being initially assigned to the B-side also in the third level.[4][5]

Zahibo made his debut for the Che on 16 December 2015, playing the whole of a 2–0 home win over Barakaldo CF for the Copa del Rey (5–1 on aggregate).[6] His first La Liga appearance took place on 24 January of the following year, when he started in a 1–1 draw at Deportivo de La Coruña.[7]

On 8 July 2016, Zahibo signed a three-year deal with Segunda División side Gimnàstic de Tarragona.[8] He made his debut in the competition on 21 August, starting in a 2–2 home draw against CD Lugo.[9]

On 5 January 2018, Zahibo cut ties with Nàstic.[10] Six days later, he signed with Major League Soccer side New England Revolution.[11]

Zahibo received MLS All-Star honors for 2018, and played in the 2018 MLS All-Star Game against Juventus.[12]

International career

Born in France and raised in Guadeloupe, Zahibo has an Ivorian father and a Central African Republic mother.[13] In September 2019, Zahibo was called up by the Central African Republic for a friendly match against Niger in Niamey.

Honours

Individual

References
  1. "Wilfried Aimeric Jocelyn Ziri Zahibo". BDFutbol. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  2. "Road to Rouen as Emon loses on debut". SuperSport. 6 January 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  3. "Zahibo, una 'perla' a la espera de destino" [Zahibo, a 'gem' waiting to be placed]. Marca (in Spanish). 25 July 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  4. "Zahibo Wilfried: "Siempre estaré agradecido al Fuenlabrada por confiar en mí"" [Zahibo Wilfried: "I will always be grateful to Fuenlabrada for trusting me"] (in Spanish). Fuenlabrada Noticias. 24 January 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  5. "El Valencia ficha a Wilfred Zahibo para el filial" [Valencia signs Wilfried Zahibo for the reserves] (in Spanish). Super Deporte. 23 January 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  6. "Un brindis por la vuelta de Negredo" [Toasting to Negredo's return]. Marca (in Spanish). 16 December 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  7. "Expediente X" [X files]. Marca (in Spanish). 24 January 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  8. "Zahibo, nuevo jugador del Nàstic" [Zahibo, new player of Nàstic] (in Spanish). Gimnàstic de Tarragona. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  9. "El Lugo desperdició una ventaja de dos goles y el Nástic rescató un punto" [Lugo threw away a two-goal advantage and Nàstic rescued a point]. Marca (in Spanish). 21 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  10. "Zahibo y el Nàstic rescinden el contrato" [Zahibo and Nàstic rescind the contract] (in Spanish). Gimnàstic Tarragona. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  11. "Revolution Add Midfielder Wilfried Zahibo". New England Revolution. 11 January 2018.
  12. "Revolution midfielder Wilfried Zahibo named MLS All-Star". www.prosoccerusa.com. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  13. "WENDIE ZAHIBO FAIT REVIVRE 10 REINES AFRICAINES DANS SON LIVRE « REINES DES TEMPS" [Wendie Zahibo revives 10 African queens in her book "Reines des Temps"] (in French).
  14. "Watch MLS All Star Wilfred Zahibo hit some trick shots". Retrieved February 11, 2018.


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