Waniss Taibi endured a dramatic afternoon in Germany as the Hannover midfielder moved from providing a moment of brilliance to seeing red in a Bundesliga 2 defeat against Kaiserslautern.
The 23-year-old Franco-Algerian, who joined Hannover this summer from Rodez, began the match on the bench and only entered the contest shortly after the hour mark.
What followed proved decisive, chaotic and ultimately costly for both the player and his team.
Taibi needed just four minutes to make an impact. In the 67th minute, he burst forward from the centre circle and linked play with a forward pass that sparked Hannover’s opening goal.
The move continued with a cross that was blocked, before the loose ball fell back to Taibi inside the area. Showing quick thinking and technique, he produced a backheel into the path of Enzo Leopold, who finished to give the visitors the lead.
The moment appeared to mark a turning point in the match and a statement from a player still fighting for regular minutes in Germany’s second tier.
Taibi has not established himself as a consistent starter since his arrival, and his introduction seemed to offer Hannover renewed energy and control.
However, the momentum did not last. Kaiserslautern responded by equalising, shifting the pressure back onto the visitors. As the tempo increased, Taibi’s afternoon began to unravel.
He received a first yellow card in the 70th minute, a booking that left him walking a disciplinary tightrope for the remainder of the match.
Six minutes later, the situation worsened. Taibi committed a late challenge with his studs raised, prompting the referee to show a second yellow card and then a red.
His dismissal reduced Hannover to ten men at a critical stage of the game.
With a numerical advantage, Kaiserslautern seized control. Hannover struggled to reorganise and cope with the sustained pressure that followed.
In stoppage time, the home side struck twice more, turning a balanced contest into a 3-1 defeat for the visitors.
For Taibi, the match told a stark story of extremes. His inventive assist underlined his technical quality and ability to influence games quickly.
His sending-off, however, overshadowed that contribution and highlighted the fine margins that can define a player’s reputation, particularly for someone still adapting to a new league and environment.
The young midfielder now faces reflection and recovery after a night that delivered both promise and frustration in equal measure.
QUELLE PASSE DECISIVE SIGNÉE WANISS TAÏBI TROIS MINUTES APRÈS SON ENTRÉE EN JEU pic.twitter.com/KxGCmBEhyA
— Chebli Ishaq (@IshaqChebli) January 18, 2026
