FC Nantes and Lyon played to a 1-1 draw on Sunday in France’s Ligue 1 with goals from African attackers forcing the two opponents to share the points on the day. Ghana winger got the start and scored during a ninety minute spell but Nantes produced a late reply when Nigeria’s Moses Simon found Egyptian striker Mostafa Mohamed for a late equalizer.
Visitors Lyon took the lead inside ten minutes through Ghanaian winger Ernest Nuamah who finished off a skilled team movement with a first-time finish for his first Ligue 1 goal of the 2024-25 campaign. It was an important goal for the Right to Dream Academy graduate who played the entire ninety minutes for the first time this season.
But Lyon, who have endured a difficult start to 2025 that saw them stunned in the Coupe de France by fifth tier club Bourgoin Jallieu earlier this month, could not hold on for the victory.
Hosts Nantes increased their efforts after halftime and were rewarded in the 90th minute when a cross from Super Eagle star Moses Simon found the head of substitute striker Mostafa Mohamed for the Egyptian’s third goal in all competitions this season. Simon continues to stand out for an underperforming Nantes team with five goals and six assists in fourteen matches.
-Lyon are in 6th place but are in need of a return to winning form as the club continues to drop down the Ligue 1 table. For Nantes, Sunday’s result salvages a point in the midst of a disappointing campaign, moving them a point out of the relegation zone in 14th place.
Nuamah and Lyon will be in action again on Thursday in the UEFA Europa League where Les Gones will look to secure a top-8 finish with a win at home against Bulgarian club Ludogorets. Nantes travel to Stade Reims next Sunday.
