Tochukwu Nnadi: Super Eagles star’s first Ligue 1 start at RB ends in Marseille disaster

Super Eagles midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi endured a very difficult afternoon as Olympique de Marseille slumped to a shocking 3-0 Ligue 1 defeat against relegation-threatened FC Nantes, Afrik-Foot reports.

Nnadi played the full 90 minutes at the Stade de la Beaujoire, but this was far from a comfortable outing. Just a week after impressing in central midfield against OGC Nice, the Nigerian was asked to fill in at right-back, a role he had not played since arriving at Marseille earlier this year.

It was a tough adjustment. While Nnadi showed composure on the ball, completing 37 of his 39 passes with an excellent 95% accuracy, the defensive side of his game came under pressure. He managed three clearances and one successful tackle, but Marseille’s overall struggles meant his performance was rated at just 5.2, a big drop from the 7.1 he earned in his previous outing.

The result also contrasted sharply with his full debut performance against Nice, where he played 80 minutes and provided an assist for Marseille’s only goal. That display had raised hopes that the €6 million signing from Zulte Waregem would quickly become a key figure in midfield.

Coach Habib Beye had hinted before the match that squad issues and suspensions might force tactical changes, and Nnadi became one of the players affected. However, the experiment did not go to plan as Marseille struggled badly throughout the contest.

Nantes punish Nnadi’s Marseille as Awaziem shines

The match itself told a dramatic story. After a quiet first half where Marseille goalkeeper Jeffrey de Lange made several important saves to keep the score level, the game changed completely after the break.

Nantes struck three times in just eight devastating minutes. In the 50th minute, Ignatius Ganago opened the scoring. Just four minutes later, Rémy Cabella doubled the lead. By the 58th minute, Matthis Abline had added a third with a brilliant solo run through a disorganised Marseille defence.

Despite enjoying 57% possession, Marseille managed only one shot on target, compared to Nantes’ seven, a clear sign of their lack of cutting edge and defensive organisation.

On the other side, Super Eagles defender Chidozie Awaziem delivered an assured performance for Nantes. Playing the full match at centre-back, he recorded nine clearances, the highest in the game, and completed 24 of his 27 passes. His calm and physical display helped Nantes secure a vital clean sheet in their fight against relegation.

The defeat could prove costly for Marseille. With only two games left in the season, their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League have taken a major hit, as they remain sixth and now trail the top four by a wide margin. Their recent form, just one win in five matches, has seen them fall sharply from earlier title contention.

However, this victory offers a lifeline for struggling Nantes. Still sitting near the bottom of the table, they have closed the gap on the relegation play-off spot and will now believe survival is still possible.