Aristide Bancé

Aristide Bancé (born 19 September 1984) is a Burkinabé former professional footballer who played as a striker.

He started his European career at Lokeren, scoring 27 goals in 87 Jupiler Pro League games. After a season in Ukraine with Metalurh Donetsk, he moved to German club Mainz 05. In his first season at Mainz he helped the club achieve promotion to the Bundesliga with 14 league goals, as well as the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal, scoring 4 goals in the latter competition. The next season, under Thomas Tuchel, he helped Mainz staying in the German top tier and achieve 9th place by scoring 10 goals in the 2009–10 Bundesliga.

In 2013, Bancé helped his national team to reach the final of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, Burkina Faso's greatest achievement in football to date. He scored both the equaliser and the winning kick in the eventual penalty shootout in the semi-final against Ghana. In the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, he scored the first goal in Burkina Faso's win over Tunisia in the quarter-finals, and in the semi-final scored a late equaliser against Egypt to take the game to a penalty shootout. Burkina Faso lost the shootout and eventually finished third overall in the cup by defeating Ghana in the third place play-off.

Metalurh Donetsk
On 20 June 2006, Bancé signed for Metalurh Donetsk on a four-year contract.

Having failed to secure a first-team place at Metalurh Donetsk, he returned to Belgium in July 2007, signing for Germinal Beerschot on a year-long loan. However, he was loaned out to Kickers Offenbach in January 2008 for the remainder of the season.

Mainz 05
Bancé joined Mainz 05 on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee in summer 2008.

Al-Ahli Dubai
On 16 August 2010, Bancé signed for Al-Ahli Dubai on a four-year contract, with the transfer agreement between the two clubs remaining undisclosed.

FC Augsburg
In June 2012, Bancé signed for FC Augsburg on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.

In September 2013, he joined Fortuna Düsseldorf on loan until the end of the season.

HJK Helsinki
In September 2014, Bancé signed with Finnish Veikkausliiga side HJK Helsinki.

Irtysh Pavlodar
In February 2015, Bancé signed for Kazakhstan Premier League side FC Irtysh Pavlodar, leaving the club in June of the same year.

Chippa United
In August 2015, Bancé went on trial with Bidvest Wits of the South African Premier Soccer League, eventually signing with Chippa United later in the month. Bancé parted company with Chippa United in May 2016.

Riga
In August 2016, Bancé signed with Virslīga side Riga FC.

ASEC Mimosas
In November 2016, Bancé was confirmed as a new signing for Ivorian side ASEC Mimosas. Bancé was voted player of the month for November 2016.

Al-Masry
In July 2017, Bancé signed a two-year contract with Egyptian Premier League side Al-Masry.

US des Forces Armées
In February 2019, Bancé returned to Burkina Faso to sign for US des Forces Armées.

Horoya AC
In May 2019, Bancé signed for Guinean club Horoya AC, his 22nd team. In October 2019 he scored a hate-trick in the Confederation Cup play-offs.

International career
Bancé is a member of the Burkina Faso national football team. He has appeared for Burkina Faso at three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, scoring both the team's goal and the winning kick in the penalty shootout in Les Étalons' semi-final defeat of Ghana at the 2013 edition to put the nation in the final for first time in its history. Burkina Faso went on to lose the final to Nigeria and finish as runner-up.

At the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, Bancé scored Burkina Faso's goal in a 2–1 loss to Congo which saw the 2013 runner-up knocked out at the group stage. In 2017, he scored a crucial goal in his team's quarter-final against Tunisia and in the semi-final scored a late equaliser against Egypt to take the game to a penalty shootout. Burkina Faso lost the shootout and eventually finished third overall in the cup, defeating Ghana in the third-place playoff.

In July 2020, Bancé announced his retirement from international football.

Personal life
Bancé was born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast to Burkinabe parents, but moved to Burkina Faso as a child. He is the brother-in-law to professional footballer Aruna Dindane.

International goals

 * Scores and results list Burkina Faso's goal tally first.

Honours
Mainz
 * DFB-Pokal semi-finalist: 2008–09
 * 2. Bundesliga runner-up: 2008–09

HJK
 * Veikkausliiga: 2014
 * Finnish Cup: 2014

ASEC Mimosas
 * Ligue 1: 2016–17

Al-Masry
 * Egypt Cup runner-up: 2016–17
 * Egyptian Super Cup runner-up: 2017–18

Al-Ahli
 * UAE League Cup: 2011–12

Burkina Faso
 * Africa Cup of Nations runner-up: 2013; third-place: 2017

Individual
 * Ligue 1 top scorer: 2016–17 (13 goals)