01/10/2025
OL: Moussa Niakhaté, the excellent comeback
Author of a very good match in September against Sudan, Moussa Niakhaté has also shown an impressive side with Olympique Lyonnais since the beginning of the season, after having faced some criticism. This is a good omen for Senegal ahead of upcoming fixtures, notably the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).At 39 years old, Olivier Giroud no longer has the spark of a 25-year-old player, but against a striker who has scored three goals since joining LOSC this summer, some of his performances are well worth highlighting. In fact, there are not many players who can boast of having completely outplayed the former Arsenal, Chelsea, and AC Milan player over the course of a match. Moussa Niakhaté is now among them. Last Sunday, on the Decathlon Arena pitch, the 29-year-old Senegalese player, vigilant to the movements of the imposing Frenchman, used his speed effectively to perfectly contain his direct opponent.
Niakhaté, solid as a rockEffective with the ball, especially in passing, strong in duels, commanding in challenges, and attentive, the former Mainz captain and Nottingham Forest central defender, who was returning to one of his formative clubs, left only scraps for Olivier Giroud. Completely disconnected from the action, the 2018 World Cup champion never found himself in a position to make a major difference in Lyon's penalty area and was forced to drop back several times. The victory for the Dogues was supposed to come from him, so the win for the Gones largely bears the mark of the Senegalese international.
“It was a tough duel against Olivier Giroud, I knew he was the key player of this team,” admitted Niakhaté after OL's 1-0 win. “He gave me a hard time, and I’m happy we’re taking away the three points. I was able to talk to him after the match; he’s really classy.” It must be said that this wasn’t the first time this season that the former Messin had outplayed a renowned striker. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang would certainly agree, having been nullified during the 1-0 Olimpico won by the Lyonnais on August 31. Sébastien Haller (Utrecht) also ended up on the losing side.
Arriving at the Rhone club in the summer of 2024, with a record transfer of 31.90 million euros, the native of Roubaix has always enjoyed a starting position since his return to France, after six years spent in Germany and England. However, his performances with Olympique Lyonnais were often questioned last season, obviously by the fans. On the other hand, in Senegal, his image was quickly appreciated and well received. His first appearances in the National Team jersey were convincing, notably exemplified by the friendly match won 4-2 against Brazil.
"We want to stay in this momentum"
Even quite recently, during the September international break, in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, his solid match against Sudan (2-0), or the one against England (3-1) last June, further enhanced his new status in the national team. His absence against the Democratic Republic of Congo (3-2 victory) was even felt at times. Having arrived at La Tanière in September 2022 and established as a starter whenever available, Moussa Niakhaté is comfortable match after match alongside his captain Kalidou Koulibaly. The same goes at Olympique Lyonnais, where he is very complementary with the Angolan Clinton Mata.
If his strong performances since the start of the season polish his image and status a little more among Lyon supporters and French Ligue 1 fans, Moussa Niakhaté knows he must not rest on his laurels. “We keep working, we want to stay in this momentum,” he confided. Very reassuring, both for Olympique Lyonnais and for Senegal. OL hopes to be able to count on Niakhaté performing at this level to boldly compete in the Championship and try to conquer Europe through the Europa League, while the Lions are relying on him to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and reclaim the title at the Africa Cup of Nations.
wiwsport.com
