RC Lens: things look grim for M'Bala Nzola
M’Bala Nzola is experiencing a true downfall at RC Lens. The Angolan striker, on loan from Fiorentina with hopes of reviving his career, is accumulating setbacks that might well mark the end of his journey with the northern club. Between disciplinary sanctions, inconsistent performances, and now being sidelined, his future seems sealed.
On February 23, 2025, during the defeat against FC Nantes (3-1), Nzola was expelled for throwing the ball towards referee Jérôme Brisard after a foul was called against him. This outburst led to a two-match suspension with an additional one suspended, further weakening an already struggling Lens attack.
Aware of the gravity of his action, the 28-year-old Angolan publicly apologized via Instagram, expressing regret and his commitment to learning from the experience. However, this sanction is not the only troubling episode of his season. He crossed another red line this past weekend. Arriving late to training on Saturday, M'Bala Nzola was immediately sanctioned by his coach Will Still. The latter did not hesitate to demote him to the reserve team for the match against Pays de Cassel in National 3. He was thus absent from the squad against Saint-Étienne (1-0) this Sunday, April 6, in Ligue 1.
After the victory against AS Saint-Etienne (1-0), the RC Lens coach publicly commented on Nzola's situation. "There is a framework to respect," commented the Belgian coach this Sunday evening after the match against the Greens, confirming the player's tardiness. "A line has been crossed. A decision has been made. This has happened before, but you may not have noticed. The essential thing is that things are clear. The end of the season will be important. If we don't respect the rules, we won't be part of the group," clearly stated Will Still. The fate of the Angolan seems sealed!
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