Lorient travel to Strasbourg on Sunday February 18 for the 22nd matchday of Ligue 1 (12pm GMT). For this encounter, Lorient will be able to count on two of their already ultra-decisive recruits: Ghanaian Nathaniel Adjei and Ivorian Mohamed Bamba, but will be without Moroccan Imran Louza. These three men are the architects of Lorient's revival.
This winter of 2024, Lorient has made three major moves, one in each line. The Merlus have signed Nathaniel Adjei (21, loan) in defence, Imran Louza (loan) in midfield and Mohamed Bamba (transfer) in attack. And the least we can say is that they have settled in very quickly. After a 0-3 defeat by Lille before their arrival, they picked up 2 wins (2-1 against Metz and 2-0 against Reims) preceded by a draw against Le Havre (3-3). Of the three games they played, Lorient had the 4th best record in Ligue 1, taking 7 points out of a possible 9. Moreover, prior to their win over Metz on February 4, Régis Lebris's team were on a run of 4 consecutive league defeats and 10 games without a win. The spectre of Ligue 2 was looming. The winter mercato was therefore an opportunity to regenerate the squad and breathe new life into it. Hence the reinforcement of the three players mentioned above.
First of all, Nathaniel Adjei incorporated himself into the defense like a boss. This despite the fact that he's only 21 and didn't start his professional career until 2022 at Hammarby in Sweden, the club to which he belongs. He has already played 3 matches, including two as a starter. After coming on as a substitute against Le Havre (3-3), he went on to play in full against Metz and Reims. His solidity and defensive ability enabled Lorient to keep a clean sheet in both matches. By way of comparison, the Bretons had scored 22 goals in 10 games prior to his first start, an average of 2.2 goals per game.
Louza-Bamba, high-speed connection
A little further up the pitch, Lorient welcomed Imrân Louza. The Moroccan attacking midfielder quickly filled the void left by Enzo Le Fée, who left for Rennes last summer. The former Nantes player has already scored 1 goal and provided 2 assists in 3 games. His technique on the move and his forward play are all major assets for the Merlus.
In fact, Louza's two assists since his arrival have all gone to one man: Mohamed Bamba. The 22-year-old Ivorian centre-forward has caught the eye with his 3 goals in as many outings. Having joined a team in which Kroupi (4 goals) is the top scorer so far this season, Mohamed Bamba could be the man to guide Lorient to survival. And in this quest, Louza and Adjei are the lieutenants capable of supporting him.
MOHAMED BAMBA 🇨🇮(2001) HEADED HOME THE OPENER!!!
3 GOALS IN HIS FIRST 3 MATCHES FOR LORIENT!!!
PANOS KATSERIS 🇬🇷(2001) WITH THE ASSIST!pic.twitter.com/z0FF3MeBug— Football Report (@FootballReprt) February 15, 2024
