In stoppage time in the match between Le Havre and Lens, Lensois goalkeeper, Hervé Koffi, received a yellow card. The second in two games.
Recruited in June, Hervé Koffi made his debut with Racing Club de Lens during the 32nd final of the Coupe de France against Paris Saint-Germain to compensate for Brice Samba's injury. During the Christmas holidays, the latter expressed his desire for elsewhere. In this situation, Hervé Koffi followed up with a second start during the 16th day of Ligue 1 against Toulouse. After a hectic week – departure of Brice Samba, real-false arrival of Pau Lopez –, the Burkinabé international once again kept the goals blood and gold during the trip to Le Havre this Sunday.
During these last two Ligue 1 matches, the 28-year-old received two warnings. Against Toulouse, he was booked in the 77th minute. In Le Havre, the referee penalized him in the 90+3rd minute. Two sanctions which could have serious consequences for the rest of the season.
Nervous player or difficult context?
First of all for the player. One more yellow card in the next seven matches and Hervé Koffi will be suspended for a cumulative three yellows in ten matches. This suspension would lead, at present, to a possible tenure of Denis Petric in the goals of RC Lens. The Slovenian's last match in official competition dates back to August 13, 2023 for the first day of the season with Nantes against Toulouse.
Next, what does this reveal? The goalkeeper situation at RC Lens has been quite complex since the departure of Brice Samba. There was this failed recruitment of Pau Lopez and the question that remains: should Koffi become number 1 goalkeeper? In this climate, it is obvious that the Burkinabé does not approach meetings in an optimal manner.
Complicated passage or nervous tendency? During the last two seasons, Hervé Koffi received four warnings with Charleroi. For comparison, Brice Samba received eight during his Lens mandate. Thus, one could think that these sanctions are linked to the context. But be careful, from now on, the new number 1 – provisional? – from RC Lens has a sword above his head.
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