Nantes Lose to Angers: Ligue 1 Result

Never two without three. FC Nantes lost to Angers (4-1) this Friday, during the first match of the 16th day of Ligue 1. A third defeat in a row for the Canaries, who were playing under the orders of their new coach, Ahmed Kantari, the latter having succeeded Luis Castro this week. Abdelli (penalty), Chérif, Harouna and Raolisoa scored for Sco, ninth in the L1 standings before the rest of the day, while Centonze briefly brought the Canaries to 2-1. Which Canaries occupy 17th place, with the same number of points (11) as the red lantern from Metz.

After the crazy week, the highlight of which was the dismissal of Luis Castro on Wednesday, his successor, Ahmed Kantari, was eagerly awaited. Former assistant to Antoine Kombouaré during the return phase of last season, the man who is making his debut as head coach of a Ligue 1 club had bet for his first match on a break with his predecessor, abandoning the Portuguese’s 4-3-3 in favor of a standard 4-4-2.

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Surprising cast

A choice accompanied by a surprising casting, since the former Moroccan international came out of the closet Fabien Centonze, who had never started this season and only twice last season, or Yassine Benhattab, who was only rarely in the group since the 7th day. Just as surprising, the tenure of Mostafa Mohamed, on the bench for the last seven days, and who will leave for the CAN with Egypt very soon. The presence of Deiver Machado, joker who arrived from Lens on Monday, on the left flank was more predictable.

Unfortunately, none of this worked and Centonze’s spectacular goal, strong and from a tight angle, to return to 2-1 ten minutes from the end, was largely insufficient. Because it didn’t even take a big Angers to overcome these lackadaisical Canaries.

Fate even went against them with an unfortunate hand from Tylel Tati at the end of the first quarter of an hour which offered the SCO a penalty sent casually by Himad Abdelli into the right corner of Anthony Lopes (1-0, 16th). The second goal also came at the end of the first quarter of an hour, but in the second act with a breakthrough from Sidiki Cherif between Centonze and Chidozie Awaziem, concluded with a sharp point to deceive Lopes (2-0, 60th). An action which illustrates why Cherif could soon become, at 19, the next big transfer from Angers, as he is so coveted in Europe.

After the small air gap which cost them to reduce the score, Angers moved forward again and the untenable Abdelli was at the origin of the third goal with a powerful volley that Lopes could only push back on Harouna Djibirin, who killed all the suspense (3-1, 87th). Substitute at kick-off, Lilian Raolisoa came to add to the score in the last seconds, from close range (4-1, 90+4). Before the break, Nantes will still have to try to avoid further disillusionment in the Coupe de France, in nine days, against Concarneau, a National club.