Nigerian striker Gift Orban and Ivorian winger Wilfried Zaha have been excluded from Pierre Sage’s squad for their crucial Europa League away fixture against Qarabağ on Thursday.
The decision comes as Lyon, sitting ninth in the standings after a two-game winless streak, seeks to halt their slide.
The Ligue 1 side recently suffered heartbreak in Germany, conceding an injury-time equalizer to Hoffenheim, and faces mounting pressure to secure results. Orban and Zaha, already sidelined in Ligue 1 action, were notably absent from the flight to Azerbaijani soil, fueling speculation about their futures.
With Lyon grappling with financial woes and a looming transfer ban imposed by the DNCG, rumors swirl over Orban’s potential departure should a lucrative offer materialize. Meanwhile, Zaha’s loan spell from Galatasaray hangs in the balance, with Sage signaling a winter squad overhaul.
Lyon’s bid to regain momentum in Europe now unfolds under the shadow of uncertainty, as fans and players alike await clarity on the club’s precarious path forward.
✈️ Notre groupe qui s’envole pour l’Azerbaïdjan cet après-midi 🔴🔵#QFKOL pic.twitter.com/fIfxrvZfNE
— Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) November 26, 2024
