Allen Obando: La Tri’s Electric Young Forward by Sebastian Ferro

Allen Obando: La Tri’s Electric Young Forward by Sebastian Ferro

Date of Birth: 13/06/2006 (17 years old)

Nationality: Ecuadorian

Club: Barcelona SC Guayaquil

Youth: Barcelona SC Guayaquil

Position: Center Forward

Height: 188cm (6 ft. 2 in)

Weight: 79 kg (174 lbs)

Strong Foot: Right

Market Value: € 1.00m (Transfermarkt)

Similar Players: Victor Oshimen, Edinson Cavani, Lautaro Maritnez

Tournament Participation: LigaPro Serie A, Copa Sudamericana, Copa Libertadores, U-17 South American Championship, U-17 World Cup, CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament

Achievements: N/A

Player History

Allen Aldair Obando Ayoví is a 17 year old center forward who plays for Ecuador’s Barcelona de Guayaquil. Obando is a graduate of Barcelona’s academy, having joined the club at the age of 9, and made his debut for the first team in the 2022 season at just 16 years of age. While Barcelona SC is not as prolific as fellow Ecuadorian club Independiente Del Valle for talent development, Obando joins a monstrous class of Ecuadorian prospects including Moises Caicedo, Peiro Hincapie and Kendry Paez. It should be no surprise then that Obando has the potential to join them at the highest levels of European football. A powerful forward with a strong physical profile for his age, Obando has the pace and agility to run in behind defenders with intelligent runs. He has already caught the eye of his national team, having been called up for competitions at the U17 and U23 level over the past two years. Most recently, Obando was a substitute in international friendly matches this past March and will be hoping to feature for Ecuador in this summer’s Copa America.

Playing Style

Allen Obando is a tall and powerful forward that possesses great hold up play, pace, and finishing. He uses his physical attributes to his advantage, and is very capable as a target forward and laying the ball off to his teammates from goal kicks or long through balls. He plays with a strong workrate offensively and defensively, and is comfortable dropping deep in order to win the ball and contribute to the build up. This often leaves him isolated throughout many periods of a game, but he is able to use his physical attributes and pace to generate opportunities for himself. This is especially impressive considering the opposing defenders are more experienced in a very physical league. He doesn’t find many opportunities to score as a result of his role in the team’s style of play however he does show strong running off the ball in and around the box regardless if the service comes in. Obando displays great composure, power, and positioning inside the box. One area in which he can improve is in his ball striking as his finishing can be erratic at times however he attacks every ball that comes near him in the box. Additionally, I believe that he could also improve his decision making and concentration. While he is a strong passer, dribbler, and displays overall great technique, he can make the wrong pass or hold on the ball for a moment too long. Despite this, he has all the raw skills needed to beat his opponent in the final third. His pace is incredibly effective and he displays great acceleration in small spaces as well as speed across larger distances of the pitch. Although his footwork appears to be of average pace, he has such long strides as a result of his large frame he is very capable of defeating his defenders one on one.

Game Footage

Here Obando times his run perfectly to beat the offside trap and shows impressive technique to control the ball with his first touch and score by chipping it over the goalkeeper.

Here Obando drops deep to receive a cleared ball, plays a quick 1-2 with his teammate before displaying good pace and intelligent off ball running on the counter.

Obando is an effective target forward. He is often the outlet for his team from long balls or goal kicks and is willing to take on defenders with his pace and physicality as seen here.

Strengths: Pace, Aerial Duels, Finishing, Off the Ball Movement, Agility

Points of Improvement: Concentration, Passing, Ball Striking

Game Notes

Game 1: Universidad Catolica v Barcelona SC – LigaPro Ecuador (01-05-2024)

Featured as the left ST in a 4-4-2.
Named a starter and featured for 59 minutes.
Did well pressing from the front, often forcing the opposing defenders into a poor pass or recycling back to the GK.
Displayed strong physicality and was successful as a target man during transitions.
Did not have many opportunities receiving the ball at his feet and had mixed results at the end of crosses and long balls over the top.
Solid in passing the ball, comfortable chesting the ball down and laying off the ball to other runners.
Did not have a great impact offensively, but that could be attributed to poor offensive build up and limited opportunities in front of goal.
Despite this, could improve decision making and off ball running to create space for himself in front of goal.

Game 2: Emelec v Barcelona SC – LigaPro Ecuador (24-04-2024)

Featured as lone ST in a 4-2-3-1.
Named a starter and played for 88 minutes.
Did well pressing from the front and displayed a strong workrate offensively throughout the full match.
Used his physicality well and was successful as a target man during transitions.
Did not have many opportunities receiving the ball at his feet was isolated playing on a much higher line than the rest of his team.
Mixed results passing the ball, was pressed constantly throughout the match
Was marked tightly and did not register a shot, but that could be attributed to poor offensive build up and limited opportunities in front of goal.
Despite this, off-ball running to create space for himself in front of goal was good.
Did receive a yellow card for a foul while going up for an aerial duel.

Game 3: Barcelona SC v El Nacional – LigaPro Ecuador (18-04-2024)

Featured as a lone ST in a 4-2-3-1.
Named as a starter and played for 71 minutes.
A classic target forward performance displaying good strength, pace and hold up play.
Effectively dropped back to receive long balls and goal kicks and was an efficient passer when building up.
Was fouled several times as a result of his strong link up play and pace.
Limited offensive production, however there was notable poor service in the final third.
Decent off ball running and pace despite not making the most of the few crosses that came his way.
Did well pressing from the front and displayed a strong workrate defensively and offensively throughout the full match

Game 4: Libertad v Barcelona SC – LigaPro Ecuador (14-04-2024)

Featured as a lone ST in a 4-2-3-1.
Named a starter and played for 72 minutes.
Strong offensive performance, scoring once off of two shots on target as well as having one assist.
Looked as a target man, winning long balls over the top as well as dropping deep to receive the ball and lay off to his teammates.
Impactful in the final third of the pitch, an efficient and powerful ball striker.
Physically imposing against his opponents, winning headers, out pacing defenders and unafraid to lean into a tackle.
A constant threat throughout the game, with impressive workrate offensively and defensively to an extent.
As a result of his positioning he did not get many touches in the box but made the most of his opportunities and was impactful in buildup.
Did have a couple of loose touches or passes despite an overall strong performance.

Game 5: Barcelona SC v Cuenca – Ecuadorian Serie A (06-04-2024)

Featured as a right ST in a 4-4-2
Named a substitute and featured in the 64th minute.
Tightly marked but was still fairly effective as a target man, dropping deep to receive outlet passes
Struggled in the box but still displayed good running off the ball despite poor service.
Effective passer once he dropped deep, an important start to their build up from goal kicks.
Showed strong work rate and won several headers, did turn over the ball a few times and was unlucky to not win a foul on a counterattack.

What’s Next?

Allen Obando has become increasingly admired in South America and Europe for his exploits for both club and country. Particularly, his recent performances in the Ecuadorian first division has elevated his profile to a greater footballing audience in Europe. Most recently Obando has been rumored to have been scouted by several high profile clubs including PSG, Borussia Dortmund, and Barcelona. What is most alluring about Obando’s potential are his physical attributes. A tall, fast, powerful striker with good movement will always be of interest to elite

European clubs and I believe that Obando can reach that level. The areas in which Obando needs to improve such as decision making and ball striking can be improved on the training ground as well as on the pitch however his physical profile is already intriguing despite his young age. Fortunately for his development, Obando is featuring regularly for Barcelona SC in a very physical league. Sadly Obando was not called up to Ecuador’s Copa America squad as a result of severe pneumonia and has not featured recently in league play as a result. Hopefully he can recover soon without issue and continue his fine form in front of goal. If all goes well I think that Obando could excel as a target forward in a top European league, perhaps a league like the German Bundesliga where his pace and physicality would excel in transitional play. Regardless he is an exciting talent and I hope it will not be long before he features under the bright lights for a premier European side.

Player Potential: 8/10