Babatounde Bello


Babatounde Issiaka Bello is a former Beninese footballer who played as a midfielder.

Club career

Bello began playing football for FC Robo Academy in Nigeria. When he was 15, he came to Benin and joined Soleil in 2005. In July 2006, he signed for Slovak club MŠK Žilina and made his Corgoň Liga debut in a 3–0 home win against Slovan Bratislava on 9 September 2006. He spent two seasons mostly playing for the reserve squad. He joined Czech side Dukla Prague on loan in the autumn of 2008, although he didn't feature for the team before returning to Žilina six months later. Following his return, he scored two goals against Dubnica on 26 May 2009. He qualified with Žilina to the 2010–11 UEFA Champions League and played four group games, scoring a goal against Chelsea in a 2–1 loss at Stamford Bridge. He joined Jihlava of the Czech First League in August 2014.

International career

Born in Nigeria and of Beninese descent, Bello holds citizenship with both countires. On 17 August 2005, Bello made his debut for the Benin national football team, coming on as a substitute for 17 minutes against Sudan.

International goals

NoDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.8 September 2013Stade Charles de Gaulle, Porto Novo, Benin2–02–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification
2.12 November 2015Stade de l'Amitié, Cotonou, Benin2–12–12018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Žilina