Real Kashmir sign Fandjé Touré, Habib Omar Fofana, Shedrack Charles & Mamoud Oshie

The Snow Leopards retain Captain Kamal Issah as they push for ISL promotion.

With the I-League 2025–26 season approaching fast, clubs are beginning to shape squads with one clear objective: promotion to the Indian Super League. Real Kashmir FC, who finished third last season and stayed in the race until the very end, have wasted no time in strengthening key areas.

Khel Now can confirm that Real Kashmir have completed the signings of Guinean winger Djibril Fandjé Touré, Ivorian centre-back Habib Omar Fofana, Nigerian forward Shedrack Charles, and Ghanaian midfielder Mamoud Oshie. 

The club has also extended the contract of captain Kamal Issah until the end of the 2025–26 season, underscoring continuity and ambition under head coach Ishfaq Ahmed.

Earlier this season, Real Kashmir had brought in Brazilian defender Eduardo Kau, but the deal was mutually terminated after the player chose to leave India amid broader uncertainty around Indian football. But surprisingly, Kau later joined the ISL side Chennaiyin FC last week. 

The I-League, now proposed to be renamed the Indian Football League, is scheduled to kick off on 21 February 2026.

Djibril Fandjé Touré: Wonderkid for a reset

Once tipped as one of Africa’s brightest teenage prospects, Djibril Fandjé Touré arrives in India with both pedigree and unfinished business.

Touré first gained global attention at 14 when he finished as the top scorer at the 2017 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, scoring six goals and leading Guinea to the semi-finals. He followed that up at the U-17 World Cup in India, finding the net against Iran and Costa Rica, performances that earned him a place in The Guardian’s “Next Generation” list (alongside stars like Pedri and Jérémy Doku) in 2019.

A move to Watford soon followed, but, like many young African players, his development was slowed by work permit complications, poor performance, and a carousel of loans. Spells in Austria and the Czech Republic gave him a European structure, but not continuity.

Now 23, Touré arrives in Kashmir with pace, directness, and a point to prove. He is an old-school wide attacker who enjoys isolating full-backs, knocking the ball past defenders, and backing himself in foot races. Comfortable across the front line but most dangerous off the left, this is a signing that carries genuine upside if confidence and fitness align.

This is a high-reward signing. If Fandjé Touré finds his confidence and fitness, he is arguably too good for the I-League.

Habib Omar Fofana: No-nonsense presence at the back

Standing at 1.92 metres and left-footed, Habib Omar Fofana brings exactly the kind of defensive profile Real Kashmir lacked at times last season.

The Ivorian centre-back has built his career the hard way, starting in Togo before grinding through Eastern European leagues in Moldova and Belarus. His time in physically demanding environments, followed by recent stints in Iraq and Saudi Arabia, makes him well-suited to the conditions and intensity of the I-League.

Fofana is not a defender who complicates things. He clears his lines, dominates aerial duels, and enjoys the physical contest. In a league where set-pieces often decide games, his presence at both ends of the pitch could prove decisive.

Shedrack Charles: Raw pace with European schooling

Shedrack Charles arrives as one of the more intriguing signings of the window.

The 22-year-old Nigerian forward came through the Red Star Belgrade system, a pathway that has produced countless African players who later flourished across Europe. While he never broke into Red Star’s first team, he gained senior experience through loans at RFK Grafičar and IMT Novi Beograd, featuring in Serbia’s top two divisions.

He was a goal machine at the youth level, netting 24 goals for IMT Novi Beograd’s U19s, which earned him a move to the senior setup.

Charles is quick, aggressive, and tactically disciplined. He can operate as a central striker, a second forward, or drift wide, offering Ishfaq Ahmed flexibility. Like Touré, he represents a calculated gamble: a player with elite training who now needs consistent minutes to unlock his potential

Mamoud Oshie: Proven in South Asian conditions

While some foreign signings require months to adapt, Mamoud Oshie arrives with the advantage of familiarity.

The 27-year-old Ghanaian midfielder has been a consistent performer in the Bangladesh Premier League with Rahmatganj MFS, a competition that mirrors the I-League in tempo, physicality, and playing conditions. His 2024–25 season was particularly impressive, scoring four goals from midfield while also filling in at centre-back when required.

Recently, Kolkata Giants East Bengal and Mohun Bagan have turned their attention to the BPL and signed some quality players from there. 

Oshie’s versatility stands out. Heatmaps from the BPL show him playing everywhere down the spine of the team. He has operated as a defensive midfielder, pushed higher up the pitch, and even dropped into defence during injury crises. His ability to cover ground, read the game, and adapt tactically makes him a valuable option in a long league campaign

Oshie’s career path is one of resilience. After starting in Ghana with clubs like Wassaman United and Bibiani Gold Stars, and a stint in Niger with Sahel SC, he found his rhythm in Bangladesh.

A squad built for a serious push

With Kamal Issah retained as captain and a mix of youthful upside and battle-tested experience added to the squad of talented Indian players, Real Kashmir looks far more equipped to handle the demands of a promotion fight this season.

If these pieces settle quickly, the Snow Leopards may finally have the balance and depth needed to take the final step toward the Indian Super League.

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