Bandirmaspor, secured a 1-1 draw against Hatayspor on Saturday at the Mersin Stadium in the twentieth round of the Turkish League.
Koka was notably absent from the Bandirmaspor lineup as he joined the national team in preparation for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations 2023 in Ivory Coast.
The first half concluded with a goalless draw between the two teams.
Hatayspor took the lead early in the second half with a goal from Rigoberto Rivas in the 47th minute.
However, Koka’s teammates managed to salvage a draw with a late equalizer from Leonardo Capaldo in the 90+4 minute.
Despite not featuring on the scoresheet in the Turkish League, Koka has contributed significantly in the Turkish Cup, where he scored three goals (a hat-trick) for Bandirmaspor.
Following this result, Bandirmaspor finds themselves in the nineteenth position with 16 points, just above the relegation zone.
Hatayspor, on the other hand, has accumulated 21 points, securing the fourteenth spot in the Turkish League standings.
The absence of Koka was felt, but Bandirmaspor demonstrated resilience to secure a valuable point against Hatayspor.
As the Turkish League progresses, both teams will be eager to improve their positions in the standings, and Koka’s return to Bandirmaspor’s lineup will likely bring added firepower to their offensive efforts.
