On fire in recent weeks, Karl Toko Ekambi is decisive in club as in selection. The Cameroonian will have a new opportunity to crack down on Thursday evening against West Ham in the Europa League during a crucial meeting.
A Clutch Player. In recent weeks, Karl Toko Ekambi has gotten into the good habit of scoring in money time. On March 28, he therefore waited until the 124th minute to plant a goal (2-1 victory) and a stab in the heart of the Algerians, who were virtually qualified for the Cup in Qatar. An achievement that is expensive for the former Angers player since he therefore sent his country to the Cup, after having already been invaluable at the 2022 African Cup of Nations (5 goals).
In club too, the native of Paris scored important goals. The latest was just Sunday. It was against Strasbourg in an oh so important match in the league. Long trailing 1-0, Les Gones were saved in the 90th minute by KTE. This goal also allows Olympique Lyonnais, tenth in L1 with 46 points, to keep a slim hope of qualifying for the European Cup. A European scene where the 29-year-old footballer shines particularly this season.
Top scorer for OL this season
Indeed, Karl Toko Ekambi is OL’s top scorer in the Europa League with 6 goals on the clock. He scored almost 1/3 of his team’s goals in this competition since the Rhodaniens have found the net 19 times in C3 this year. Tonight, he will have the opportunity to improve his statistics against West Ham in the quarter-final second leg (1-1 first leg, editor’s note). Uncertain weather in London last week due to covid-19, the Cameroonian was finally able to make the trip and even enter the game 27 minutes, without scoring however.
A point that he intends to rectify in front of the public at Groupama Stadium, he who is one of the elements most used by Peter Bosz. Author of 33 matches in all competitions including 27 as a holder, KTE is also decisive. He has scored 14 goals in all this season. In detail, there are therefore 6 in the Europa League and 8 in the French championship. He is the club’s top scorer in all competitions. To all this, we must add 5 assists.
OL are conquered
Interesting statistics from the player under contract until 2024, who has not always shown precision in the past. What he has visibly improved to the delight of Peter Bosz. “Karl is important with his goals and his dribbling. He is dangerous. He plays better and better and plays very close to Moussa Dembélé if the ball is on the opposite side. We need people for the centers. Not just number 9”.
Also present in front of the media on Wednesday, Romain Faivre, who arrived this winter, also praised the Cameroonian. “Karl is a big brother. He talks to us in the locker room. He’s a very good guy in the locker room and on the pitch.”. Complimentary remarks that the 29-year-old player will certainly appreciate. A player on whom Olympique Lyonnais and its many supporters are counting on this Thursday to put on their costume as a serial scorer and crack down on West Ham.
