Kodjovi Obilalé

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Kodjovi Obilalé

| image =

| caption =

| full_name = Kodjovi Dodji Akanava Obilalé{{cite web |url=https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |title=2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Togo |publisher=FIFA |page=28 |date=21 March 2014 |access-date=6 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610174527/https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |archive-date=10 June 2019}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|10|8|df=y}}

| birth_place = Lomé, Togo

| height = 1.89 m

| position = Goalkeeper

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = 2001–2003

| youthclubs1 = Chamois Niortais

| youthyears2 = 2002–2003

| youthclubs2 = Lorient

| years1 = 2003–2006

| clubs1 = Étoile Filante de Lomé

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 = 2006–2008

| clubs2 = CS Quéven

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| years3 = 2008–2010

| clubs3 = GSI Pontivy

| caps3 = 12

| goals3 = 0{{cite web|url=http://www.foot-national.com/5394-joueur-football-Obilale-Kodjovi-Dodji.html |title=Kodjovi Dodji Obilale at |publisher=Foot-national.com |date= |accessdate=15 March 2010}}

| nationalyears1 = 2006–2010

| nationalteam1 = Togo

| nationalcaps1 = 5

| nationalgoals1 = 0

}}

Kodjovi Dodji Akanava Obilalé (born 8 October 1984) is a Togolese former footballer who played as a goalkeeper for the Togo national team. His last club was the French amateur club GSI Pontivy.{{cite web|url=http://www.stat2foot.com/CFAFOOT2008-2009.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090616223901/http://www.stat2foot.com/CFAFOOT2008-2009.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 June 2009 |title=Avec la disparition désastreuse de DTFOOT , les amoureux des stats |accessdate=15 March 2010 }} His career was cut short after he was severely injured in a rebel attack targeting the Togolese team bus in the Cabinda Province, Angola, just two days before the start of the 2010 African Cup of Nations.

Club career

Born in Lomé,{{cite web|url=http://www.playerhistory.com/player/86143 |title=Playerhistory Profile |publisher=Playerhistory.com |date= |accessdate=9 January 2012}} Obilalé began his career with Chamois Niortais,{{cite web|url=http://www.letelegramme.com/sports/une/kodjovi-obilale-dodji-un-epervier-en-bretagne-20080520-3102133_1331500.php |title=Kodjovi Obilalé Dodji. Un Epervier en Bretagne |publisher=Letelegramme.com |date=26 November 2008 |accessdate=15 March 2010}} before signing a contract with FC Lorient in 2003.{{cite web|last=Schuiringa |first=Jurriën |url=http://www.voetbalcentraal.nl/nieuws/43281/ook-reservedoelman-kodjovi-obilal-overleden-list |title=UPDATE: Reserve-doelman Obilalé nog in leven |publisher=Voetbalcentraal.nl |date= |accessdate=15 March 2010}} After one year in Lorient. he returned to Togo and signed a contract with Étoile Filante de Lomé,{{cite web|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur24722.html |title=Football: de la fiche de Kodjovi Obilalé |publisher=Lequipe.fr |date= |accessdate=15 March 2010}} where he played for three years.{{cite web|url=http://globalsport-togo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59:transfert--obilale-a-pontivy-&catid=51:foot&Itemid=67 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708091422/http://globalsport-togo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59:transfert--obilale-a-pontivy-&catid=51:foot&Itemid=67 |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 July 2012 |title=Transfert : Obilalé à Pontivy ! |publisher=Globalsport-togo.com |accessdate=15 March 2010}} In July 2006, he returned to France and moved to CS Quéven,{{cite web|url=http://www.lorient.maville.com/sport/detail_-Football-Kodjovi-Obilale-l-oiseau-rare-de-Pontivy-_spo-1213097_actu.Htm |title=Football : Kodjovi Obilalé, l'oiseau rare de Pontivy |language=fr |publisher=Lorient.maville.com |date=21 October 2008 |accessdate=15 March 2010}} where he played 39 games in one and a half year, before leaving the club in the summer of 2008 to sign a contract with GSI Pontivy.{{cite web |title=Effectif Football Pontivy GSI |url=https://www.pontivy-football-gsi.com/ |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715011749/http://www.pontivy-football-gsi.com/ |archivedate=15 July 2009 |accessdate=15 March 2010 |publisher=Pontivy-football-gsi.com }}

International career

Obilalé is a former member of the national team,{{cite web|url=http://www.ouest-france.fr/sport/une_foot_detail_-Coupe-d-Afrique-des-nations.-Kodjovi-Obilale-l-oiseau-rare-de-Pontivy_40394-1213777_actu.Htm |title=Coupe d'Afrique des nations. Kodjovi Obilalé, l'oiseau rare de Pontivy |language=fr |publisher=Ouest-france.fr |date= 4 January 2010|accessdate=15 March 2010}} and was called up to the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He was the only member of the World Cup squad to play for a club in Togo. He was capped five times by Togo in 2009.{{cite web |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/14439.html |title=Obilalé, Kodjovi Dodji |website=National-Football-Teams.com |access-date=4 June 2011}}

2010 African Cup of Nations shooting

On 8 January, a bus carrying the Togo national football team to the African Cup of Nations was fired at by a group of rebel terrorists from Cabinda Province, Angola, just after they had crossed the Congo border.{{cite web|last=Reeves |first=Nick |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5idOk2cEQaoQwWz_85JMSiTwd9xhg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100111220326/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5idOk2cEQaoQwWz_85JMSiTwd9xhg |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 January 2010 |title=Gunmen wound four in attack on African football stars |date=8 January 2010 |accessdate=15 March 2010}} Obilalé was one of the two players who were reported to have bullet wounds. Defender Serge Akakpo, was the other player confirmed to have been shot. The driver of the bus was killed during the attack, and the assistant coach and a spokesperson later died from their wounds.{{cite news |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=9 January 2010 |date=9 January 2010 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/8449611.stm |title=Togo withdraw from Africa Cup of Nations}} Later, Obilalé was reported dead by some sources including MSNBC.com;{{cite news |publisher=Goal.com |accessdate=9 January 2010 |date=9 January 2010 |url=http://goal.com/en-us/news/84/africa/2010/01/09/1735021/goalkeeper-assistant-coach-and-press-officer-reported-dead-after- |title=Goalkeeper, Assistant Coach And Press Officer Reported Dead After Togo Bus Shooting}} such reports were later dismissed by his club GSI Pontivy in a press announcement, stating the player was undergoing surgery in South Africa instead.{{cite web |title=Kodjovi Obilalé n'est pas décédé des suites de ses blessures (Agence AFP) |url=http://www.pontivy-football-gsi.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070222032718/http://www.pontivy-football-gsi.com/ |archive-date=22 February 2007 |accessdate=15 March 2010 |publisher=Pontivy-football-gsi.com }}[https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2010/01/09/sports/sports-uk-togo-angola-safrica.html Togolese Goalkeeper In S.Africa For Treatment] Later reports indicated that Obilalé's condition had improved following the shootout, and that he was "recovering well."{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=728477&cc=5739 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604025951/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=728477&cc=5739 |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 June 2011 |title=Togo 'keeper Obilale "recovering well" in hospital |publisher=ESPN |date=20 January 2010 |access-date=15 March 2010}}

In March 2010, Obilalé returned to France to continue his rehabilitation at the Kerpape centre in Lorient; later in July, he confirmed that, as a result of the shooting, he was still suffering serious walking problems, and that he did not think about playing football anymore.{{cite web|url=http://www.afrik.com/article20323.html |title=Togo : Obilalé, le rêve brisé|publisher=Afrik Foot|date=13 July 2010 |accessdate=15 August 2010 |language=French}} Obilalé's rehabilitation was funded by FIFA, the Togo government and the French Football Federation, and the goalkeeper complained that "the only institution that did not help me, it is the Confederation of African Football".[http://www.jeuneafrique.com/272112/societe/kodjovi-obilale-seule-institution-ne-aide-cest-caf/ Togo – Kodjovi Obilalé : « Je n’en veux plus à mes agresseurs » ] {{in lang|fr}}

On 30 July 2010, his contract with French football club Pontivy expired, and he stated that he had serious financial issues. He also announced his intention of denouncing the Togo Football Federation, on the grounds that it had neglected his situation. These concerns were also raised by a number of other former fellow players, including international teammate Emmanuel Adebayor, who, according to Obilalé, regularly calls him and helps him financially on his own.

On 26 July 2010, Obilalé was given the honour of taking the kick-off during a friendly game between Lorient and Rennes, which was organized to raise funds for the rehabilitation facility where he had recovered. The game was attended by more than 3,000 people.{{cite web|url=http://www.ouest-france.fr/actu/actuLocale_-Plus-de-3-000-spectateurs-pour-Lorient-Rennes-_-1457119------56165-aud_actu.Htm |title=Plus de 3 000 spectateurs pour Lorient-Rennes|publisher=Ouest-France |date=26 July 2010 |accessdate=15 August 2010 |language=French}}

Obilalé has since earned a diploma in special education, and works in the field of youth rehabilitation for Lorient association Remise en Jeu. In 2015, he published an autobiography, Un destin foudroyé ("A Destiny Struck").