Waris Misses Lorient Debut Due to Missing Clearance from Turkish Federation
Lorient’s new signing Abdul Majeed Waris was named in the squad for their Ligue 1 opener against Olympique Lyonnais at the Stade de Gerland on Sunday. But while his presence on the team sheet raised hopes of a debut appearance, the Ghanaian striker was ultimately left out of the matchday action.
According to L’Équipe, Waris was not eligible to play due to administrative delays. The former Valenciennes and Trabzonspor forward had not yet received his international transfer certificate—commonly referred to as a release letter—from the Turkish Football Federation. Without this vital document, the French football authorities were unable to formally register him for competition.
The delay proved to be a source of frustration for both the player and coach Sylvain Ripoll, who had hoped to count on the pace and attacking prowess of the Black Stars international.
As Lorient looks ahead to their second fixture of the season—a home clash against Bastia next Sunday—the club remains hopeful that Waris’s paperwork will be resolved in time. His availability could provide a timely boost as the Breton side aims to make a strong start to their Ligue 1 campaign.
