Club Africain bring in Mali centre-back Ismaila Simpara after Stade Malien exit

Mali centre-back Ismaila Simpara has joined Tunisian side Club Africain on a free transfer from Stade Malien. The 28-year-old completed the move on 14 August 2026, switching clubs after one season with the Malian outfit.

Simpara is a right-footed defender who stands 1.87m tall and has moved to a Club Africain side competing in Tunisia’s Ligue 1. His arrival adds experience at centre-back, with the player having featured in several African club competitions during his career.

He has made 13 appearances in the CAF Champions League, scoring once, as well as eight appearances in the CAF Confederation Cup. His record also includes 12 matches in Morocco’s Botola Pro Inwi and one appearance in the Coupe du Trone Marocaine.

Simpara joined Stade Malien from ASC SNIM on 3 October 2025, also on a free transfer. Before that move, he spent the 2024-25 season with Moroccan club Moghreb Tetouan, arriving from Stade Malien without a fee in July 2024.

His career has included two spells with Stade Malien. He initially moved there from Senegalese club Generation Foot on loan in August 2021, returning to Generation Foot at the end of that loan in June 2022. He then rejoined Stade Malien in September 2022 before making the switch to Moghreb Tetouan the following year.

The move to Club Africain represents Simpara’s latest change of club after spells across Mali, Senegal and Morocco. His path to Tunisia has included domestic football in each of those countries, alongside appearances in both of Africa’s leading club competitions.

Simpara has signed a contract with Club Africain running until 30 June 2028.