Bamba Dieng’s remarkable run of goals has transformed him from a player earmarked for departure into one of Ligue 1’s most decisive forwards, reviving both his club career and his international ambitions.
Only months ago, the 25-year-old Senegal striker appeared to be heading for the exit at FC Lorient after being sidelined and left out of first-team plans.
Now, early 2026 has brought a dramatic reversal. Dieng is in prolific form, driving Lorient’s rise up the Ligue 1 table and forcing his way back into conversations about Senegal’s squad for the 2026 World Cup.
The turnaround has been swift and emphatic. Marginalised during the first half of the season, Dieng has emerged as Lorient’s most reliable attacking threat.
According to figures reported by Soleil Sports, the former Marseille forward has scored eight goals in his last six appearances across all competitions, a return that underlines his renewed confidence and sharpness.
His scoring streak continued last Saturday in a 2-1 victory over Nantes, where he again found the net.
That goal followed a series of decisive performances that marked the beginning of his resurgence in January.
On 16 January, Dieng scored the only goal of the match as Lorient claimed a surprise 1-0 win away at Monaco. Days earlier, he struck twice and added an assist in a Coupe de France tie against Hauts Lyonnais, a 3-1 success that further highlighted his growing influence.
The standout moment of this revival came at the end of January, when Dieng produced a hat-trick in a 7-0 win over AS Le Gosier, earning a perfect individual rating and widespread praise.
The contrast with his situation last summer could hardly be sharper. Signed by Lorient in 2023 for €7m, Dieng had struggled to justify the fee, scoring 11 goals in 53 matches, and endured an unconvincing loan spell at Angers.
The club’s intention was clear. “This player was supposed to be sold, but since the club couldn’t sell him, we brought him back into the squad at the beginning of September,” coach Olivier Pantaloni admitted, as quoted by Le Soleil Sports.
Pantaloni has since recognised a clear shift in the striker’s mindset. “He has made the necessary efforts to get back to his best and become part of our project,” the coach added.
With his contract running until June 2026, Dieng’s resurgence carries significance beyond club football.
Having missed Senegal’s victorious Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Morocco in 2025, the Diourbel-born forward is now staking a renewed claim for international selection.
His current form offers a timely reminder of the qualities he displayed during Senegal’s 2021 continental triumph, and could yet propel him back into contention for a place at the World Cup in North America.
