Crystal Palace’s International Player of the Week

Name: Bakary Sako
Country: Mali
Position: Winger

Sako has made a positive start to his Crystal Palace career.

There was a number of crucial fixtures for African nations during the international break as they faced a two-legged play-off that could see them advance to the group stages for qualification to the 2018 World Cup.

One of those countries was Mali, for whom Palace winger Bakery Sako stars, and after their first-leg against Botswana finished in a 2-1 defeat, they knew they needed to turn it around to avoid being eliminated.

And the 27-year-old certainly stepped up to the plate, scoring the second goal in a 2-0 that keeps his nation’s chances of reaching Russia very much alive.