Injury-Hit RC Lens Forced to Turn to Youth Ahead of Toulouse Clash
By BBC Sport | Football – Ligue 1
RC Lens manager Antoine Kombouaré is facing a selection crisis ahead of Friday’s Ligue 1 encounter with Toulouse, as injuries and suspensions leave his squad severely depleted.
Already restricted by a transfer ban and a growing injury list, Lens now find themselves without three key outfield players — Ahmed Kantari, Jean-Philippe Gbamin, and Jérôme Le Moigne — following last Friday’s fiery clash against Paris Saint-Germain. The result is a threadbare squad with little margin for tactical flexibility.
Speaking at a press conference, Kombouaré confirmed he will be forced to promote players from the club’s reserve side (CFA) to fill out the team sheet.
“We’re losing three outfield players for Friday: Kantari, Gbamin, and Le Moigne,” he said. “I’m going to call on players from the CFA. We have no choice. We’ll make do.”
The timing could hardly be worse. Toulouse have been formidable at home this season, remaining unbeaten with two wins and two draws from their opening home fixtures. Lens, on the other hand, have struggled for consistency, and the absence of experienced figures like Kantari and Le Moigne could prove costly against such an in-form opponent.
The situation underscores the broader difficulties facing Lens this season. The club’s transfer embargo has prevented the addition of reinforcements, placing enormous pressure on the existing squad to stay fit and maintain performance levels across a long and gruelling campaign.
Kombouaré has previously praised the commitment of his squad, but with resources now stretched to their limits, Friday’s match may prove a stern test of both Lens’ resilience and their manager’s ability to adapt.
All eyes will be on how the youth players respond under the spotlight of Ligue 1 football — and whether Lens can defy the odds against a confident Toulouse side.
