Dutch Togolese-Nigerian forward Emanuel Emegha’s late winner lifts Strasbourg past Nantes

Emanuel Emegha came off the bench to score Strasbourg’s decisive goal in a 1-0 victory over Nantes on Sunday, sealing three crucial points despite earlier missing a clear opportunity.

Manager Liam Rosenior opted to start without the striker, but turned to him after the interval in search of a breakthrough.

The gamble nearly backfired when Emegha squandered a golden chance late on, firing over the bar from close range with just ten minutes to play.

Barely half a minute later, however, he made amends in emphatic fashion.

Meeting a precise cross from substitute Dilane Bakwa, the 21-year-old rose high to power a header beyond the Nantes goalkeeper, sending the Stade de la Meinau into celebration.

The goal proved enough to secure Strasbourg their second league win of the season and relieve pressure in a tense encounter that looked destined for a stalemate.

Speaking after the match, Emegha admitted his relief at converting his second opportunity.

I had no doubt that I would seize this next opportunity, he said. I will miss many more chances. But the most important thing in this case is to stay focused and score.

Rosenior praised his striker’s resilience, pointing to the quick recovery after a costly miss.

Strasbourg, who had struggled to break down Nantes’ compact defence, found their breakthrough at the perfect time, and the three points lifted spirits in front of a home crowd that had grown increasingly anxious.

The result leaves Strasbourg climbing the Ligue 1 table, while Nantes were left frustrated after keeping their hosts at bay for most of the contest.

For Emegha, the match was a reminder of the fine margins that define a striker’s role.

One glaring miss was quickly forgotten thanks to a decisive goal, underlining both the pressure and the importance of persistence in front of goal.

With this performance, the Togolese-Nigerian forward once again highlighted his value to Strasbourg’s attack, proving capable of turning a match in their favour when it mattered most.

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— L1+ (@ligue1plus) August 24, 2025