Mali’s Nene Dorgeles Refuses to Celebrate Goal as a Mark of Respect

Mali youngster Nene Dorgeles made a remarkable gesture during the quarter-final clash against Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations. Despite scoring a sensational goal, Dorgeles chose not to celebrate as a mark of respect.

The 21-year-old forward, who plays for Red Bull Salzburg, showcased his skills only moments after replacing Adama Traoré. With just 19 minutes remaining, he unleashed a powerful strike from outside the box, leaving everyone in awe.

However, Ivory Coast managed to force the game into extra time with a last-minute goal from Brighton winger Simon Adingra. The match took a dramatic turn when Oumar Diakhite sealed the victory for Ivory Coast with the final kick of the game.

In a shared video on social media, Dorgeles can be seen purposefully refraining from joining the jubilant celebrations. Instead, he chose to pay homage to the country of his Ivorian parents.

This type of gesture is commonly witnessed in club football when players refrain from celebrating against their former clubs or parent teams, especially in the case of loan deals. Dorgeles, born in Kayes, Mali, spends his vacations in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. He began his football career in Mali with Guidars FC before moving to Europe to join Red Bull Salzburg in 2021. Additionally, he has also had loan spells at SV Ried in Austria and Westerlo in Belgium.