The week had certainly been complicated for Antoine Kombouaré, once again in the hot seat. But it ended well. Confirmed in his position by his management, in a turnaround of which he has the secret, after the refusal of Sergio Conceiçao and the difficulties of Habib Beye in putting together his staff, the still Nantes coach saw his team qualify quietly against Drancy ( 0-4), this Saturday.
At the Bauer stadium in Saint-Ouen which was almost full, the step was much too high for the current 12th in group E of National 3 who was never really able to glimpse the feat. The only real thrill was Idris Kadded's header diverted by the Swede Patrik Carlgren (22nd), still preferred to Alban Lafont in the Nantes goals, just after Matthis Abline's opening score (0-1, 20th).
Without its best attacker Moses Simon and with a team where Kombouaré had rotated a little, Nantes unfolded. Scorer at the Parc des Princes against PSG (1-1), three weeks ago, Matthis Abline delivered a great performance up front. Always available, the 21-year-old attacker imposed his power to score a double in the first period (20th, 33rd).
Back to reality, maintaining N3
Obviously, at 0-2 after a little over half an hour of play, the atmosphere was affected despite the announcer's efforts to encourage the spectators at half-time. As for the Nantes Ultras, closely monitored by numerous stewards and police, we sang throughout the match, without any excess to report. The rather serious performance of the Nantes players on the field did not lend itself, this time, to demands.
After a big save from Anisse Derkaoui on a point-blank rebound from the young (18-year-old) Bahereba Guirassy (57th), Nantes added a 3rd goal by Nathan Zeze, with a header from a corner (0-3, 63rd). Coming into play, Egyptian international Mostafa Mohamed also scores his goal (0-4, 82nd). Despite the efforts of his captain Abdé Sanogo on his left side, Drancy did not really succeed in worrying Carlgren in the second period.
After these last few days, Nantes will be able to have a more peaceful break. On the Drancy side, there will be no new adventure after the 8th finals in 2011 and 2012. The short-lived resident of National (2018-2019) with limited means for his first team, will already have to ensure his maintenance in N3 after this Coupe de France parenthesis.
DRANCY (N3) – NANTES (L1): 0-4 (0-2).
Referee: M. Batta.
Buts. Abline (20e, 33e), Zeze (63e), Mohamed (82e).
Warnings. Drancy: Spurio (19th), Fofana (35th)
Drancy: Derkaoui – Fofana, Lepka (Diaby, 46e), Metzler (Kholkhal, 70e), Boukhedimi – Traoré (Dieye, 55e), Lina, Laplace, Spurio (Mafuala, 77ee), Sanogo (cap.) – Kadded (Barbouchi, 70e). Entr. :Hamma.
Nantes : Carlgren – Coco, Castelletto, Zézé, Cozza (Amian, 70e) – Chirivella (cap.), Lepenant (Leroux, 84e), Augusto (Gbamin, 77e) – Guirassy (Mohamed, 70e), Ganago (Thomas, 70e) , Abline. Enter. : Kombouaré.