Full name Abdulla Obaid Koni Years Team Weight 81 kg 1990–1996 Al Sadd Height 1.85 m | Playing position Role Footballer Place of birth Dakar, Senegal Name Abdulla Koni Position Defender | |
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Date of birth (1979-07-19) July 19, 1979 (age 36) | ||
Abdulla Obaid Koni (Arabic: عبد الله كوني, born on July 19, 1979, in Senegal) is a retired Qatari footballer of Senegalese descent who was a defender for Al Sadd. He was also a member of the Qatar national football team. He also played for their national youth team.
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Career
Koni captained Al Sadd to victory in the AFC Champions League in 2011. In the round of 16 of the tournament, he scored a decisive header against Al Shabab which turned out to be the winner. His team went on to win the tournament, defeating Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the final in South Korea. As a result of the AFC Champions League triumph, he led his team into the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup. In the quarter-finals, he scored the winning goal against Espérance de Tunis slotting in a cross from teammate Lee Jung-Soo, earning his team a 2–1 victory. This set up a semi-final confrontation against Barcelona on 15 December 2011.
With Barcelona leading 1–0 in the 36th minute, Barcelona forward David Villa timed a run well and allowed for a ball to be played over the top into the path of his run. Villa and Koni raced toward the Al Sadd net. As the ball hit the ground, Villa failed to corral the ball, allowing the Koni the time to catch up and challenge for the ball on its next bounce. He made a shoulder challenge on Villa as he attempted to strike the ball, causing Villa to fall awkwardly on his left leg and break it. Because of this, Koni was dubbed as "maybe the most influential player of the Euro 2012".
Club
Al Sadd: