On January 1, 2025, Stade Rennais has confirmed the arrival of Seko Fofana for a four and a half year contract. The announcement was made through an original video where supporters try to guess the identity of the new recruit, with humorous clues such as “Bachelet” and “fries”.
Seko Fofana, the former RC Lens player, appeared in this video to wish Rennes fans a happy new year, causing a certain bitterness among Lensois supporters. They remember that Fofana left their club for Saudi Arabia in 2023, citing financial reasons.
The decision of Fofana, former captain and shareholder of Racing, to join Stade Rennais has provoked questions about a potential conflict of interest, particularly in view of the next Lens-Rennes match scheduled for March 16. This situation fueled discussions on social networks.
Laurent Mazure expressed on X the feeling of betrayal of Lensois supporters, saying he was disappointed by the choice of Fofana. “I admit to having difficulty with the signing of Fofana in Rennes. Yes, football has changed…” he said, highlighting the change in values in the world of football.
-Mazure also noted that this signing put an end to the debate concerning Fofana's legendary status at RC Lens. For him, although Fofana brought a lot to the club, he had not reached this status before, and this decision does not change that perception.
Reactions to the video also highlighted stereotypes about the Artois region, mentioned by Mazure in now-deleted tweets. The former player, once a favorite of Bollaert supporters, will have to face a potentially tense atmosphere when he returns to the Lens field.
