Mohamed Koné’s once-promising season at Royal Charleroi Sporting Club has taken a troubling turn, with the Ivorian goalkeeper finding himself firmly out of favour in recent weeks.
Once the undisputed number one between the posts, the 23-year-old now watches from the sidelines as his fortunes continue to dwindle.
After arriving with high expectations and a determination to establish himself in the Belgian top flight, Koné quickly earned the trust of his coaches.
The Ivory Coast U23 international featured prominently in the first half of the campaign, clocking 1,890 minutes across 21 league matches.
His consistency and composure stood out, even as he battled through adversity, including a broken hand in October 2024 that forced him out for several weeks.
Despite that setback, Koné made a swift return to action and appeared to have cemented his role as first-choice goalkeeper. But a narrow 1-0 loss to Anderlecht on 16 February proved to be a turning point.
Since that evening, he has been confined to the bench, missing the final four matches of the regular season and the opening three playoff fixtures.
The reasons behind his sudden exclusion remain a topic of speculation. While coach Rik De Mil has publicly defended Koné, suggesting that the goalkeeper’s contributions earlier in the season have been overlooked, his recent selections tell a different story.
“People only remember the mistakes,” De Mil said in late February. “But he has also won us points. My decisions don’t mean I’ve lost faith in him.”
Despite the words of reassurance, Koné has been unable to reclaim his spot. In his place, Martin Delavallée has seized the opportunity.
A peripheral figure at the beginning of the campaign, Delavallée has risen to the occasion with a string of confident performances.
His composure and consistency have earned the trust of the coaching staff and nudged Koné further down the pecking order.
The sudden shift in hierarchy has left Koné in a precarious position. With just seven games remaining in Charleroi’s campaign, including crucial playoff ties that could determine their European aspirations, the window for him to stage a comeback is rapidly narrowing.
His response, both in attitude and effort during training, will be critical.
Beyond the remainder of the season, questions loom about Koné’s future at the club. With previous experience at Le Havre and Dunkirk, the goalkeeper has proven pedigree and a solid track record.
But whether that will be enough to restore his standing in Charleroi’s setup remains uncertain.
As the season draws to a close, the spotlight remains on Koné—not for his performances on the pitch, but for the battle he now faces off it.
In a sport where momentum and timing often dictate careers, the coming weeks will likely prove decisive for the Ivorian shot-stopper’s next chapter.
