Ibrahim Sangaré has faced a lengthy and difficult journey back into the Nottingham Forest squad.
Signed for £30 million from PSV, the Ivorian midfielder has struggled to win over the Forest fanbase, who often expect more from him. Last season proved particularly frustrating for Sangaré. Manager Steve Cooper admitted that he played him out of position in an attempt to help him adjust to the Premier League, but this approach ended up being counterproductive.
Sangaré’s best performance came when Nuno Espírito Santo arrived as manager, leading to a 3-1 victory at Newcastle. However, shortly after, he went to the African Cup of Nations and contracted malaria, a setback that significantly delayed his progress. Losing weight and strength, Sangaré was limited to just six appearances in the second half of the 2023/24 season.
A strong summer of recovery saw him regain his strength, and Espírito Santo started him in the first three games of the 2024/25 season, where Sangaré topped the Premier League for tackles. Unfortunately, a hamstring injury cruelly sidelined him for the remainder of the year.
Sangaré made his comeback with an assist in the 7-0 victory over Brighton, and he was given a start in the FA Cup match against Exeter on Tuesday. After the win, he posted a message on Instagram, expressing his satisfaction in continuing the team’s journey in the Emirates FA Cup: “Not an easy one, but happy to continue our journey.”
Ibrahim Sangare reacts on Instagram after Forest beat Exeter
Ibrahim Sangaré shared his thoughts on Instagram following Nottingham Forest’s win over Exeter. In the Carabao Cup, Sangaré faced penalty heartbreak—had he converted his spot-kick, Newcastle would have been eliminated by Forest in the second round.
On Tuesday, he made his first start since August and put in a solid performance, registering two assists for goals by Ramon Sosa and Taiwo Awoniyi. After the match, he posted a message to the fans, saying: “Not an easy one, but happy to continue our Emirates FA Cup journey.”
Ibrahim Sangare stats vs Exeter
While some critics may argue that Sangaré should perform well against a League One team, it’s worth noting that not every Forest player displayed the same level of performance.
Sangaré didn’t let the challenging conditions or subpar pitch affect his game, showing resilience both in and out of possession.
A key concern for Sangaré is his tendency to give away fouls, a habit that Forest’s coach will look to address moving forward.
Despite this, Sangaré’s defensive skills and growing ability to contribute offensively make him an important asset to Forest’s squad.
