Orlando Pirates agree deal to sign Mali Ligue 1 Pro Player of the Season as Soweto giants raid Malian giants for two highly-rated players

Orlando Pirates have reached an agreement with 24-time Malian Ligue 1 Pro champions Djoliba AC over the services of Abdoulaye Dine Mariko.

The 21-year-old's namesake, Abdoulaye Mariko, recently joined the Buccaneers from Djoliba in a separate deal.

"Dine has been working on obtaining a South African Visa in Bamako after the two clubs reached an agreement," a source told GOAL.

"He will be traveling to South Africa this week and a deal can only be finalised after he passes his medicals.

"A two-year deal has been discussed for the best player in Mali."

Abdoulaye Dine Mariko was named Player of the Season in the Ligue 1 Pro at the 2025 Malian Football Federation awards last month.

Dine, who is an attacking midfielder by trade, provided five assists and netted 14 goals, including a hat-trick in the penultimate game of the season against FC Diarra on June 3 and he shared the Ligue 1 Pro Golden Boot award with Moctar Cisse, the Stade Malien striker.

His former Djoliba teammate, Abdoulaye Mariko, 23, is a defensive midfielder, having turned out for Mali at youth and senior levels. 

The Buccaneers have so far signed 10 players, including Abdoulaye Mariko, as they reinforce their squad for the upcoming campaign.

Dine will be hoping to pass his medicals and finalise his move to Pirates ahead of the 2025/26 season, which is due to start next month.

The Buccaneers have started training under their new coach, Abdeslam Ouaddou, with the team set to travel to Spain for a pre-season camp.