Olympique Lyonnais decision leaves Mohamed Ouedraogo waiting for first-team return

Mohamed Ouedraogo will have to wait longer for a return to the Olympique Lyonnais first-team squad after being left out of the group for Friday’s Ligue 1 home match against AJ Auxerre.

The Burkina Faso defender’s omission represents a second consecutive absence from a Ligue 1 squad. He had been hoping to move closer to senior-team involvement, but he has not been selected for the latest fixture as Lyon prepare to face Auxerre.

Ouedraogo currently finds himself behind Nicolas Tagliafico and Abner in the competition for the left-back position. The two players remain ahead of him in the pecking order, limiting his immediate prospects of being included in the professional squad.

The decision means the young Burkinabe defender’s wait for another opportunity with Olympique Lyonnais will continue, at least for the time being. His exclusion from the group against AJ Auxerre confirms that he is not yet considered among the preferred options for the position.

However, the situation could change over the coming days because of uncertainty surrounding Tagliafico’s future at the club. According to L’Equipe, the Argentina international could still leave Lyon while some transfer markets remain open.

If Tagliafico departs, his exit would create space in the squad and could give Ouedraogo a fresh opportunity to move up the left-back hierarchy. Such a departure would potentially alter the options available to Lyon in that position and improve the Burkina Faso defender’s chances of being called into the professional group.

For now, though, Ouedraogo remains outside the squad selected for the meeting with Auxerre. His current position reflects the competition between him, Tagliafico and Abner, with the latter two continuing to occupy the leading places at left-back.

The possibility of movement in the transfer market means the make-up of the position may not remain unchanged for long. Tagliafico’s potential departure is the factor most likely to affect Ouedraogo’s prospects in the immediate future, although no change has yet been confirmed.

Until then, the defender will continue to wait for another chance to be involved with Olympique Lyonnais’ first team. Friday’s match will therefore pass without him in the squad, extending his run of consecutive Ligue 1 omissions to two.