Forge FC signs ex-HFX midfielder Sissoko, local product Poku

Forge FC announced on Wednesday afternoon that it has signed two more players to its 2022 roster, in midfielders Aboubacar Sissoko and Kwasi Poku.

Sissoko, a 26-year-old born in Mali, is a familiar name to Canadian Premier League fans, after making a tremendous impact for HFX Wanderers FC at the Island Games in 2020, playing 10 out of 11 games for the club on their run to the Final. He has a prior connection to Forge as well, having been selected by them in the second round of the 2018 CPL-U SPORTS Draft. Sissoko was a standout player in his time at the Université de Montréal, as well as in PLSQ with Longueuil and St-Hubert.

After departing the Wanderers, Sissoko played in the USL Championship for Indy Eleven in 2021, making 21 appearances for the side in his only season there. Now, he returns to the CPL to join the club that defeated him in the 2020 Final, slotting into an already-strong midfield group (including another recent addition in Alejandro Hojabrpour).

Poku, meanwhile, is an 18-year-old Ontario-based midfielder, coming to the CPL from the Toronto FC Academy. He appeared for both TFC III and TFC II in 2021, having moved to the club’s youth system after previous development at Woodbridge Strikers and Unionville Milliken SC.

“We are very happy to welcome Aboubacar and Kwasi to Hamilton” said Forge FC Director of Football Costa Smyrniotis. “Aboubacar is a player we know quite well, and whose qualities and work ethic will allow him to fit right into our group. Kwasi is a young player that we are really looking forward to working with as he takes his first steps as a professional.”

With these two additions, Forge now have 12 players confirmed for their 2022 roster. Sissoko and Poku are the club’s fourth and fifth new additions, joining Hojabrpour, Terran Campbell, and Ashtone Morgan.