Ghana’s Elisha Owusu links Auxerre’s scoring woes to departure of key attackers

AJ Auxerre captain Elisha Owusu has pointed to the departure of last season’s top-scoring duo as a primary reason for the club’s current offensive struggles in Ligue 1.

Speaking in an interview with Flashscore, the Ghana midfielder admitted that the absence of Hamed Traorè and Gaëtan Perrin has left a significant void in the squad’s attacking efficiency.

Both players were instrumental in the previous campaign, each contributing 10 league goals to shoulder the team’s scoring burden.

Their departures have coincided with a season where Auxerre has recorded the lowest goal tally in the league, managing only 17 goals as of February 21, 2026.

Owusu emphasized that while the team continues to create scoring opportunities at a rate similar to last season, they are failing to convert them into goals.

Despite the loss of these key figures, the captain remains adamant that the current squad possesses enough talent to find the net, suggesting the issue is more psychological than technical.

“Last season we lost two players who scored most of our goals, so yes, we lost important players. But this season, we still have players who can score. I think it’s about confidence. We create chances like last season, but we don’t finish them. It’s about belief and mindset.”

The midfielder’s assessment comes at a critical juncture for Auxerre, who currently sit in 16th place—the relegation playoff spot—with 17 points from 22 matches.

The club’s home form, once a “fortress” where they secured 27 points last term, has faltered, yielding only 11 points from 11 games this season.