Modou Sougou

As of 23 May 2015

Early years and Portugal

Born in the village of Fissel in the M'bour department, Sougou started his career with Dakar-based AS Douanes. He moved to Portugal in 2004 at the age of 19, signing a four-year contract with U.D. Leiria. He made his Primeira Liga debut on 29 November, coming on as a late substitute in a 1–0 home win against S.L. Benfica. Sougou continued to compete in the Portuguese top flight the following six seasons, representing Vitória de Setúbal, Leiria and Académica de Coimbra. In 2009–10, whilst at the service of the latter club, he scored a career-best in the country nine goals in 29 matches, helping it to the 11th position; additionally, in early 2013, he revealed that he came close to signing with FC Porto when André Villas-Boas was the manager, but a potential deal fell through due to injury.

CFR Cluj

In late May 2011, Sougou joined Liga I side CFR Cluj, having previously signed a pre-contract agreement. The move was put on hold because his previous club, Académica, wanted €300,000 in compensation, but the transfer was eventually completed whilst the player stated one of the main reasons to sign was rejoining former manager Jorge Costa. Sougou finished his first year in Romania as joint-ninth top scorer with ten goals, adding several assists to help his team win the national championship for the third time in five years. In January 2012, chairman Julius Muresan revealed that the player had been given a release clause of €11 million. On…

Sougou made his debut for Senegal on 21 August 2007, playing the first half of a 1–1 friendly draw against Ghana in London. He was selected for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, appearing in two games an eventual group-stage exit.

Sougou is a practising Muslim, and observed fasting during the Islamic month of Ramadan.