"Vengeful" Hervé Koffi bouncing back at Angers
Hervé Koffi is in a "vengeful" mood this season, having featured sparingly for RC Lens last season. The Burkinabe goalkeeper is now featuring prominently in Ligue 1 McDonald's, with SCO Angers.
Koffi a Ligue 1 McDonald's regular
Koffi is no stranger to Ligue 1 McDonald's, however, he has never been a regular in France's top flight. His first experience in L'Héxagone came when he signed for Lille back in 2017 in order to become Les Dogues' back-up goalkeeper. Unsurprisingly, he was not a regular, playing just six times for LOSC before leaving in 2021.
He made the short trip across the border, joining Charleroi in Belgium, where he wore the No.1 jersey and excelled, tempting Lens to bring him back across the border in the summer of 2024.
However, it was once again clear that Koffi would fulfil a back-up role. Brice Samba was irreplaceable between the sticks, and his performances had even earned him a place in the France national team, however, when Samba left last January, an opportunity presented itself.
𝗝𝗼𝘆𝗲𝘂𝘅 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲́ ! 🥳
Notre gardien Hervé Koffi fête ses 29 ans ce jour 🎂 pic.twitter.com/CdNTjNNsMX— Angers SCO (@AngersSCO) October 16, 2025
But rather than keeping with the promoted Koffi, who played an interim role as No.1, Lens dipped back into the transfer market, signing Mathew Ryan. Whilst the Australian goalkeeper didn't stay beyond the end of the season, nor did Koffi, who, after Robin Risser's arrival from Strasbourg, made the move to Angers.
When he arrived at Angers, Koffi's career was at an impasse, but for the first time since being in Ligue 1 McDonald's, the Burkina Faso No.1 is now an undisputed starter at club level.
For Koffi, there is relief. "When you are coming off the back of several seasons as a starter and you become a No.2, that leads to frustration," admitted to goalkeeper in an interview with AFP.
Koffi ranks among Ligue 1 McDonald's best
He arrived at Angers with a "vengeful mindset", he said and was keen to prove his detractors wrong. "With what happened at Lens, quite a few people were disappointed and asked if the manager (Will Still) was right or wrong. It is up to me to show him that he was wrong," added the goalkeeper.
Koffi has been playing like a goalkeeper with a point to prove. Playing for a club performing towards the bottom of the Ligue 1 McDonald's table, he has been busy in goal. After eight matchdays in Ligue 1 McDonald's, no goalkeeper has made more saves than Koffi (34), whilst he also has the best post-shot expected-goals figure in the division; those are impressive numbers for a goalkeeper whose opportunities have been limited in recent months.
Having arrived at Le Sco with a point to prove, he is certainly making a point. At 29, he is showing that he has the level to be a starter in Ligue 1 McDonald's, and he will have to retain that level to help Angers achieve their objective of staying in the top-flight.
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