Soccer
United States international Timothy Weah has backed Nigeria’s Tochukwu Nnadi to step up for Olympique de Marseille when they face FC Nantes in a crucial Ligue 1 clash, Soccernet.ng reports.
Weah will play no part in the match after picking up his fifth yellow card in French competitions, which has triggered an automatic one-match suspension. The winger’s absence comes at a delicate moment in the season, with Marseille chasing a European place and every point now vital.
The suspension means head coach Habib Beye must rethink his right flank. Weah’s versatility, often switching between right wing and wing-back, makes him a difficult player to replace directly. Options such as Hamed Traorè, Michael Amir Murillo, and Pol Lirola remain available, while tactical reshuffles could also see Igor Paixão or Ethan Nwaneri moved into wider roles.
Despite the range of alternatives, Weah himself has pointed to Nnadi, signed as a defensive midfielder from Zulte Waregem in the winter, as the man to fill the gap.
“Who’s going to replace me with my suspension?” Weah said as per Massilia Zone.
“There are plenty of players. Nnadi, he’s going to do the team a lot of good, he’s quick. We all saw him in the last match. I see him perfectly filling that role.”
Soccer Nnadi’s breakthrough moment and Marseille’s European push
Nnadi’s growing reputation follows an impressive full debut against OGC Nice, where the 22-year-old midfielder showed composure, energy, and attacking quality in equal measure.
He played 80 minutes in that match and made a telling contribution in the 66th minute, delivering a precise cross that set up Pierre-Emile Højbjerg for a diving header. That assist capped a strong all-round display that included 69 touches, an 85% pass accuracy, two key passes, and several defensive contributions, including recoveries and duels won.
The Super Eagles star’s performance quickly caught attention, with supporters praising his calm presence in midfield and even drawing comparisons with former France great Claude Makélélé. Match ratings reflected his impact, as he emerged as one of Marseille’s standout players on the day.
It was a performance that convinced Weah, on loan at Marseille from Juventus, that Nnadi is destined to shine at the French club.
“Nnadi? He’s well integrated into the team. He doesn’t talk much but he’s really strong in training,” Weah added.
“I hope to see him in the big matches, he’s going to keep making us thrilled.”
Now, with Weah unavailable, the spotlight shifts firmly onto the Nigerian youngster to deliver again, this time in a high-pressure encounter against Nantes.
Marseille head into the fixture sitting sixth in Ligue 1 on 53 points. With only three matches left in the 2025-26 season, their targets are clear. The club’s primary aim is to close a four-point gap to the top four, currently occupied by PSG, Lens, Lyon and Lille, and secure a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Failing that, maintaining their position in sixth remains crucial to guarantee at least Europa League or Conference League football. Teams like Monaco, with 51 points, are close behind, meaning there is little room for error.
With their Coupe de France campaign already over following a penalty shootout defeat to Toulouse in the quarter-finals, the league is now Marseille’s sole focus.
That makes the clash with Nantes even more significant, and gives Nnadi the perfect stage to justify Weah’s faith and further establish himself as a key figure in Marseille’s run-in.
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