Player Profile – Gilles Yapi Yapo

The 23-year-old midfielder with a funky surname (Yapi-Yapo) was born in Costa Marfi and arrived in Europe aged 19 when Beveren invited him to play for them in the Belgian top flight. Yapi-Yapo soon became one of a host of Ivorians plying their trade at Beveren and, along with the likes of Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboué, settled to his task exceptionally well.

Part of an exciting wave of young talent to arrive in Europe from the Ivory Coast, Gilles Yapi-Yapo is capable of unlocking the opposition defence at any moment.

In 2002-03, his second season, Yapi-Yapo netted 10 goals in 25 League matches and had developed into one of the finest prospects in Belgium by the time Nantes swooped for him in January 2004.

He played 15 times in the second half of last season and has featured in all but one of Les Canaris’ Ligue 1 fixtures this term. An exciting player to watch, the African youngster is a real crowd-pleaser and a chorus of ‘Yapi-Yapo’ is often the first chant heard in the stands of La Beaujoire on a Saturday evening.

At just 1m71cm, Yapi-Yapo is a diminutive figure, but his low centre of gravity helps him to duck and weave through challenges, while his vision often creates openings for Nantes’ front-two.

He might not start the World Cup games in midfield for Cote d’Ivoire but he is still a key member of their squad who can come on during a game and make a difference to the team.