Former Bafana international Lebo Phiri reunites with French side
Former Bafana Bafana international Lebo Phiri has reunited with his former French side, having left the club in June 2021.
Phiri has rejoined En Avant Guingamp; the club confirmed the news on Thursday evening.
EA Guingamp is a professional football club based in the commune of Guingamp in France. The outfit competes in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football.
The former Bidvest Wits youth product signed up with EA Guingamp until the end of the season. Phiri’s five-month contract with EA Guingamp has an option to extend for a further year.
EN AVANT GUINGAMP OFFICIAL STATEMENT
“En Avant Guingamp is pleased to announce the return to Brittany of its former South African midfielder Lebo Phiri,” read the club’s statement.
“Lebo left the EAG in June 2021 to join Turkey with the Rizespor club [D1]. Here he is back in the Côtes d’Armor.”
The SA-born footballer is a versatile player, as he is capable of playing in different midfield positions. He is usually deployed as a central midfielder in the role of a deep-lying playmaker.
Overseas, Phiri also represented teams such as Brøndby IF, Çaykur Rizespor, and Paris FC.
The 29-year-old footballer made his debut for Bafana Bafana, coming on from the bench during South Africa’s 3–1 win over Eswatini on 25 March 2015. He last played for the national team in 2020 during the AFCON qualifiers, where he scored his second international goal against Sudan.
Ever since that year – 2020, Phiri has been struggling with injuries, which affected his chances of playing at Bafana level.
Phiri will be expected to add value to the EA Guingamp’s midfield options and help the club reach the promised land.
EA Guingamp currently sit 8th in the French Ligue 2 with 32 points from 22 outings.
The side will take on Annecy at home on Saturday, 10 February 2024. The kick-off is at 20:00 [SA time].
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