Drissa Kouyaté has parted ways with Rayon Sports after negotiations over his future at the club, but the Malian goalkeeper has suggested that the way he was treated during the discussions influenced his decision to leave.
Kouyaté, who joined Rayon Sports in 2025 on a two-year contract, made the remarks in a message to his followers on Thursday night, August 13, 2026, amid growing indications that his time at the Rwandan club was coming to an end.
“When you are not respected at the table, leave the table”
Kouyaté posted a brief but pointed message that appeared to address the circumstances surrounding his departure.
He said: “When you are not respected at the table, leave the table. Go where you are valued.”
The goalkeeper did not provide further details about what he considered a lack of respect or value during the negotiations.
His comments, however, came at a time when Rayon Sports had already brought in another goalkeeper, Dande Junior, raising questions about Kouyaté’s position within the club’s plans.
Rayon Sports says the separation was mutual
Rayon Sports has presented a different picture of the circumstances surrounding Kouyaté’s departure.
Club president Murenzi Abdallah told Radio Rwanda that discussions with the goalkeeper had been concluded and that the two sides had agreed to part ways.
The president described the separation as having been reached “by mutual agreement between both parties.”
That account contrasts with Kouyaté’s public reference to respect and value, although neither side has publicly disclosed the full details of the negotiations.
Kouyaté’s difficult spell at Rayon Sports
Kouyaté’s departure marks the end of a challenging period with Rayon Sports.
The Malian goalkeeper joined the club in 2025 on a two-year contract and was entering the final year of that agreement when discussions over his future intensified.
His time at the club was also complicated by a dispute that eventually reached the legal and football-governance structures, contributing to a FIFA sanction against Rayon Sports while he remained a registered player.
Rayon Sports later maintained that the dispute had been resolved through an agreement.
However, Kouyaté’s latest comments have brought renewed attention to the difficult relationship between the goalkeeper and the club, particularly during the final stage of his time in Kigali.
There is no indication from the information available that his latest message alone triggered the separation. Rayon Sports’ official position remains that the two parties reached an agreement to end their relationship.
Rayon Sports moves forward with new goalkeeping options
Kouyaté’s departure leaves Rayon Sports with Dande Junior as its new goalkeeping addition, while Mugisha Yves remains another option for the position.
The changes suggest that the club had already begun restructuring its goalkeeping department ahead of the new season.
For Kouyaté, the next challenge will be finding a club where he believes his role, contribution and professional value will be properly recognised.
What Kouyaté’s exit says about player-club relations
The dispute highlights the importance of negotiations and professional relationships between football clubs and their players, particularly when contract situations become complicated.
While Rayon Sports insists that the separation was mutually agreed, Kouyaté’s message suggests that he felt his position was not being sufficiently recognised during negotiations. The goalkeeper’s next destination has not yet been announced.
