Ligue 1: Ernest Nuamah, the light after the journey through the desert

The return of a player long absent from the pitch

Ernest Nuamah needed a night like this. Against Rennes, the Ghanaian quickly took charge of Lyon's attack by scoring two goals in the first half, in the 7th and 30th minutes. Mobile, hard-hitting and constantly focused on goal, he rediscovered the qualities that had made him one of OL's most closely watched young strikers.

This performance brings his goal tally to three in four Ligue 1 appearances this season, following his goal against Auxerre. It comes above all after a long period during which the player had practically dropped off the radar. On 7 April 2025, Olympique Lyonnais had announced a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, bringing his season to an end. The injury ultimately kept Nuamah off the pitch for 388 days according to recorded history, with several dozen matches missed.

His gradual return to competition was therefore far from trivial. After a few appearances at the end of the previous season, the Ghanaian was able to complete a full pre-season and start this new campaign with greater responsibilities. At 22, he now seems to be progressively rediscovering the rhythm and sensations that had allowed him to establish himself as an attacking weapon for OL.

A season to erase the previous one

The 2025-2026 season will inevitably remain as a difficult parenthesis in Nuamah's career. The injury came at a time when he was still looking to establish himself permanently in the Lyon starting eleven. His extended absence deprived him of continuity, playing time and the opportunity to deliver on the promise glimpsed since his arrival at Lyon. This new season therefore presents a very different challenge. Nuamah must no longer simply return to the pitch: he must now reclaim a central place in Lyon's project. His profile can contribute to that.

Capable of playing out wide, taking on his direct opponent and attacking space with his pace, the Ghanaian international brings a different dimension to Lyon's attacking department. Against Rennes, he rediscovered that ability to push a defence back and convert his bursts of acceleration into dangerous situations. His manager Paulo Fonseca also expects a great deal from him. The Portuguese coach believes this season must allow Nuamah to take a step forward, particularly in terms of efficiency and consistency.

After the victory against Rennes, the Portuguese coach reiterated the expectations he places in him. "I told Ernest that this year must be his. He is a player of great quality. He must have the ambition to have a great season." For the Lyon manager, the work done in recent weeks is above all beginning to bear fruit, particularly in terms of attacking effectiveness. "We talked about being decisive, about scoring, about providing assists. I can feel him improving. Today, he had a great match," he added. The brace against Rennes represents, in that regard, a first convincing answer.

Now, sustain it over time

The hardest part may be just beginning. A brace is not enough to erase more than a year of physical complications. The question will be whether Nuamah can string matches together, accumulate minutes and maintain that explosiveness over several months. OL will need him in a particularly demanding season, with European competition and domestic fixtures alike.

The Lyon coaching staff will also need to manage his playing time gradually after such a lengthy absence. For Nuamah, the challenge is as much physical as it is sporting. He must find a consistency that has long eluded him and turn this promising start to the season into genuine momentum.

Against Rennes, the Ghanaian showed he can once again become a decisive player. With three goals in four Ligue 1 matches, he has already put his name back in the spotlight. After spending a long period away from the pitch, Ernest Nuamah is finally stepping back into the light. What remains now is to stay there.