Why wasn’t Nuamah traveling to Toulouse?

Olympique Lyonnais was able to pull away in the final moments against Toulouse to secure a precious victory (1-2) on the last day of Ligue 1. But beyond the result, it is the absence of Ernest Nuamah who got people talking. The Ghanaian striker was not called up by his coach Pierre Sage, a decision which came as a surprise, especially as the player is looking for his first goals this season.

Sanctioned due to being late for training

Asked before the meeting about Nuamah’s absence, Pierre Sage clarified the situation with a touch of humor: “ Regarding Nuamah, it wasn’t him who was injured, it was his watch. » Behind this remark hides a stricter reality. According to The Teamthe 19-year-old player was reportedly sanctioned for arriving late for training during the last session before the trip to Toulouse. A lapse in conduct that the Lyon coach did not want to let go, preferring to mark the occasion by temporarily removing him from the group.

This decision is part of Pierre Sage’s desire to reinstate a certain rigor within the Lyon squad, whose start to the season was marked by irregular performances. By choosing to do without Nuamah, Sage showed that no player is above the rules, regardless of status or importance within the squad. This choice has all the more weight as Lyon was looking for points and the young striker, who arrived this summer, could have provided additional offensive support.

However, the Gones coach did not wish to extend this sidelining. According to the latest information, Nuamah should return to the squad this week, for the Europa League match against Rangers in Scotland on October 3. An opportunity for the young player to get off to a good start and finally make his contribution offensively.

In the meantime, this small sanction could have a beneficial effect on the behavior of the entire team, reminding us that commitment and discipline are key elements to hope to redress the bar in this complicated start to the season for the Olympique Lyonnais.