Former Burkina Faso striker Aristide Bancé was a formidable force during his playing days with the national team. Though he did not always receive the same global recognition as other African stars, Bancé made tremendous contributions on the pitch. One amazing aspect of Bance was his durability, competing for Burkina Faso for over a decade between 2003 and 2019.
Bancé also showed exceptional commitment to his nation, appearing in three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and captaining the team on multiple occasions. His loyalty paid dividends in 2013 when his opening goal against Togo helped Burkina Faso shock the continent by reaching the AFCON final. While not a prolific scorer overall, Bance used his pace and technical ability to come through in crucial moments.
This timely scoring touch peaked with Bancé notching three goals at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations. And though he never transferred to a European club, Bance achieved success in the South African premier league, scoring 41 goals across two seasons and earning the golden boot.
Besides all there are many ontold stories of Bance, africanews360.com brings six of some amazing facts of the retired african soccer icon
1) A Bissa ethnicity
Aristide Bancé is from the Bissa ethnic group, one of the largest ethnic groups in Burkina Faso that extends across West Africa. Bissa was one of the spinoffs of the famous Mande Tribe of the old Ghanaian empire. He is from the Tolla clan, one of the dominant Bissa clans across Burkina Faso and Ghana. The Bance clan can also be from the Ouarugu clan, but source indicates Aristide Bance is from the Tolla gate.
2) Could have played for the Ivorian national team.
Born in Ivory Coast, Bancé could have played for the Ivorian National Team as a citizen. He could have obtained Ivorian nationality under the principle of jus soli, i.e., by birth in Ivory Coast.
Through nationalisation, Bance could have become an Ivorian citizen, as the law allows those who have rendered important service to the nation to naturalise after a two-year residency.
3) A veritable Globetrotter
In a career that spanned 20 years. Bance played for 22 different clubs across Africa, Europe, and asia. In Africa alone, he played for ten different clubs from his native Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast.
The 39-year-old Aristide Bance played for those 22 clubs across 13 countries:
– Germany: Mainz 05, Augsburg, Fortuna Düsseldorf, Kickers Offenbach
– Belgium: Lokeren, Beerschot AC
– Ukraine: Metalurh Donetsk
– Turkey: Samsunspor
– UAE: Al-Ahli
– Qatar: Umm Salal
– Finland: HJK Helsinki
– Kazakhstan: FC Irtysh Pavlodar
– Egypt: Al-Masry
– South Africa: Chippa United
– Cote d’Ivoire: ASEC Mimosas, Stade d’Abidjan, Athlétic Adjamé, RFC Daoukro, Williamsvills
– Latvia: Riga FC
– Guinea: Horoya AC
– Burkina Faso: Santos Burkina, US des Forces Armed
4)The second-highest goal scorer and second Most-capped pkayer for Burkina Faso
Burkina’s second-top scorer for Burkina Faso with 24 goals, 10 adrift of the highest goal scorer, Moumouni Dagano.
He is also the second-most-capped player at 79, five behind Dagano, who has 83.
It was the second time lucky for the Burkina Faso man-hero at the World Cup playoff.
5) A tough minded personality on and off the field
When the going gets tough, the tough gets going and Aristide Bance exhibited that in all his life.
In 2013, Bance saved his face with bravery after taking two penalties in a match.
Then the Dusseldorf player turned from zero to hero for Burkina Faso’s as he sealed a 3-2 win in their 2014 FIFA World Cup Africa Play-Off first-leg over Algeria with a late penalty.
The striker made up for a first-half miss from the spot when he bravely elected himself to convert a second penalty at the 86th-minute spot-kick after Essaid Belkalem was controversially adjudged to have handled inside the area.
Bance stepped up to take the penalty but hit a tame effort that Algeria goalkeeper Adi Mbolhi saved relatively comfortably.
Luckily for Bance, his miss was quickly forgotten as Pitroipa struck in stoppage time at the end of the half.
Bance had a first-half spot-kick saved but bravely stepped up to score in the 86th minute and hand the Burkinabe a slender lead for the return leg in Blida on Nov. 19, which will decide who gets a place at next year’s finals in Brazil.
His act of bravery came to light again in 2018 when he played for El Masry in the Egyptian League. The striker launched a scathing attack against the club in particular, the Egyptian Football Federation, and football in North Africa in general after failing to resolve his financial crisis with the club.
In a video criticising events in African football, he attacks Egyptian football as racist and treats black-clad players with slavery.
6) Had Djibril Cisse behind his iconic hairstyle
Aristide Bance wore an iconic hairstyle that was instantly recognisable on the field of play.
With his dyed hair, the dark-skinned giant of a striker was always a tormentor on the field with his physique and excellent ball control.
But Bance rather owes the choice of style to French and Liverpool legend Jibril Cisse.
He once revealed that he had always loved watching Djibril Cisse when he was young and had wanted to have some level of semblance with the French star.
