Paris, France – Paris FC prepares to host Le Havre this Sunday as Antoine Kombouaré navigates a squad impacted by international duty and a growing injury list. The club, currently seeking to solidify its position in Ligue 1, will be without several key players called up by their national teams, while others remain sidelined due to injury. This match presents a crucial opportunity for Paris FC to build on a recent positive run of form, having secured five points from their last three matches.
The international break has seen a significant number of Paris FC players receive call-ups. Diego Coppola, on loan from Brighton, has been selected for the Italian national team for their crucial World Cup qualifying playoff matches. Luca Koleosho will join the Italian Under-21 squad, while Moses Simon is set to represent Nigeria. Adding to the international representation, Nhoa Sangui has earned his first call-up to the French Under-21 team, and Rudy Matondo has been promoted to the French Under-19 squad. These call-ups, while a source of pride for the club, present a logistical challenge for Kombouaré as he prepares for the match against Le Havre.
However, the news isn’t all positive on the player availability front. Ilan Kebbal (quadriceps) and Samir Chergui (hamstring) are both nursing injuries and have not been selected for their national team, Algeria, and will miss the game against Le Havre. They are joined on the sidelines by Vincent Marchetti (lumbago) and Tuomas Ollila, who is currently using crutches. These absences will test the depth of Kombouaré’s squad and require tactical adjustments.
Kombouaré, who took the reins on February 23rd, 2026, has emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and consistency. “With me, there is never a let-up,” Kombouaré stated. “I expect confirmation every weekend. I hear talk of points for staying up, but the goal is to win as many matches as possible, that’s why You can’t afford to relax.” He recognizes the significance of the match against Le Havre, an opponent directly competing for survival in Ligue 1.
Paris FC’s recent performances have shown a marked improvement in defensive solidity. The team has secured two clean sheets in their last three matches under Kombouaré, a testament to the growing partnership between Coppola and Moustapha Mbow at the heart of the defense. A 90+6 minute penalty at Lyon was the only goal conceded in that stretch, following a 0-0 draw against Strasbourg. Kombouaré has implemented a back four formation, built around the Coppola-Mbow axis, with Adama Camara impressing at right back and either Thibault de Smet or Nhoa Sangui filling the left-back role.
While the defense has tightened, Kombouaré acknowledges the need for improvement in the attacking third. Ciro Immobile, a key attacking threat, has yet to find the back of the net this season and has seen limited service within the penalty area. “It’s not just him, all the attackers need to be fed and have ammunition. The whole team needs to work harder to get more players into the box,” Kombouaré explained. He admitted to experimenting with different attacking trios in recent matches, indicating he is still searching for the optimal combination.
Jonathan Ikoné, who has started on the right wing since Kombouaré’s arrival, has been underperforming and is aware of the need to elevate his game. “I would like to do better,” Ikoné admitted. “But I’m giving it my all every day to get back to my best level. I’m happy to be part of this Paris FC project, and it’s good for me, as a Parisian, to be close to my family after moving around a lot.”
The situation surrounding Maxime Lopez is also drawing attention. Lopez has yet to feature for Paris FC since his arrival, and Kombouaré has challenged him to demonstrate a greater impact on the team, particularly in the attacking phase. “He’s back in the squad for Strasbourg,” Kombouaré said. “But it’s clear I told him I expect him to show something different than what he’s shown so far. He needs to be more offensively impactful and, above all, get some stats. I’ve had discussions with him, and I’m seeing things in training that please me. Now it’s getting interesting…”
Paris FC (13th in Ligue 1) will need to translate their defensive improvements into attacking threat against Le Havre (14th), who are just one point behind in the league table. Kombouaré stressed the importance of defending higher up the pitch, winning possession in the opponent’s half, and delivering more balls into the penalty area. The team will be aiming to build on their recent positive results and deliver a performance that will please their supporters, who have endured a challenging season.
The match against Le Havre is scheduled for Sunday at 17:15 local time. Paris FC will be looking to continue their momentum and further distance themselves from the relegation zone. Following this match, Paris FC will have a break before their next fixture, allowing time for the returning international players to reintegrate into the squad and for the injured players to continue their recovery.
What are your thoughts on Paris FC’s chances against Le Havre? Share your predictions and opinions in the comments below!
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