Emmanuel LANGELLIER, Media365, published on Saturday November 9, 2024 at 12:31 p.m.
Nantes striker Ignatius Ganago, possible starter for the first time this season at Lens, has experienced very painful times in recent years.
This Saturday at the end of the day (kick-off at 7:00 p.m.), FC Nantes goes to RC Lens as part of the 11th day of Ligue 1. A perilous trip to the 7th in the ranking for the Canaries, 14th , who remain on 2 consecutive defeats (1-2 against OM and 1-3 in Strasbourg) and have been without success since August 31 (3-1 in Montpellier). This match, Ignatius Ganago could start, which would be his first start of the season after 5 consecutive appearances. Lens, a particular opponent for the former Sang et Or (2020-2022).
Ganago: “My daily driving force is my family”
Arriving in Nantes in September 2022, the Cameroonian striker is gradually regaining sensations on the pitch. In search of a first tenure, Ganago gradually returned after experiencing two very difficult moments. In February 2023, he first experienced the immense pain of losing his little daughter, who died at 5 years old. Then the 25-year-old was seriously injured in November 2023, suffering a ruptured cruciate ligament in his left knee. But he remains standing. “My daily driving force is my family. Since I was little, I have wanted to play football and my family encourages me, motivates me, prays a lot for me. The second thing is that I love football. I live my passion, confides Ganago in Ouest-France. Concerning injuries, it already happened to me in Nice. I always knew how to get back up. I always told myself that the work would pay off. You have to keep working and I have that mentality. This wasn't the case when I was younger where I was mostly there to have fun. I understood that I was in the professional world. To get results, you have to work hard. »
“A new beginning”
This 2024-25 season represents a new start for the robust attacker. “Yes, I feel better and better. I start to play a little. I continue to work hard, on the field or in the gym. My knee no longer reacts like it used to. Of course, I still have some small pains on the side but I can manage them. It is also with time that they will leave. It's a new start for me because I almost didn't play last season. I want to scrape as many minutes as possible. I have already played two full matches with the reserves,” says the man who will therefore return to Lens and the Bollaert-Delélis stadium which had paid tribute to his daughter with jerseys adorned with her first name. “It was really strong. This really touched me. RC Lens is a club that I will always carry in my heart, like OGC Nice. These are clubs which gave me everything, which helped me progress as a footballer but also on a human level. These clubs have been there for me when things have been difficult. I will always be grateful to them. »
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