Bakary Nimaga

Early career

Nimaga was born in Douala, Cameroon to Malian parents who were working in Cameroon at the time of his birth, but they soon moved back to Mali during Bakary's childhood, where he grew up with his three brothers and four sisters. He helped his uncle at a local market in order to aid his family financially and to also fund his passion for football, as he was part of the Stade Malien academy. At the age of 15 he moved to South Africa to join a youth academy there with the help of a German couple who he had met in Mali, before moving to the Netherlands to join the FC Twente academy. He soon left the club and went on to live in Germany before returning to Mali.

Skënderbeu Korçë

Nimaga's agent was in contact with Albanian champions Skënderbeu Korçë prior to his move to the club, and was convinced by the club's official to return to Europe where he signed his first professional contract in the closing stages of the 2013 January transfer window, which was two-year deal ending on 31 December 2015. He featured in 5 league and 2 Albanian Cup games, helping his side win the Albanian Superliga championship for a third consecutive year. On 17 August 2014, Nimaga scored the only goal in the 2014 Albanian Supercup against Flamurtari Vlorë at Qemal Stafa Stadium, giving the club their only second Supercup trophy. He scored in the beginning of the second half after a cross from the captain Bledi Shkëmbi. Later, on 25 January of the following year, he scored the…

He was named in the Mali U-20 squad for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Turkey, where he featured in all 3 group games, drawing two and losing one to finish bottom of Group D. He can represent either Cameroon or Mali.

As of 13 October 2023

Skënderbeu Korçë Albanian Superliga: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16 Albanian Supercup: 2013, 2014