Issouf Ouattara

Issouf Ouattara (born 7 October 1988) is a Burkinabé professional footballer who plays as a forward for Saudi club Al-Sharq .

Club career

Born in Ouagadougou, Ouattara began his career in Etoile Filante Ouagadougou. In July 2008 he signed with Portugal's U.D. Leiria in the second division, and played his first game on 30 August in a 0–1 home loss against Portimonense S.C. where he came on as a second-half substitute. He contributed with 26 matches (one goal) as the club promoted back to the Primeira Liga, but appeared significantly less in the following year.

In September 2011, after spending one season on loan to C.D. Trofense– second level, less than one third of the matches played – Ouattara left Leiria and signed for Nîmes Olympique in the French division three. In the following campaign he moved teams and countries again, joining Bulgaria's PSFC Chernomorets Burgas after a period of trial.

In his only full season in the country, Ouattara was voted his club's Best Foreign Player in a poll conducted in its official website, earning over 1,000 votes. He was released in late 2013.

International career

Ouattara made his debut for Burkina Faso not yet aged 19, helping to a 1–1 home draw against Mozambique on 24 March 2007 for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. He was selected for the 2013 edition of the tournament on 8 January, playing against Togo in the quarter-finals in an eventual runner-up finish for the nation.