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VAFC: A hard-fought win against Le Puy—but what a relief! Valenciennes had to wait until the very end of the match to finally get the better of Le Puy this Saturday. This victory—their second of the season—was crucial to keep them out of the relegation zone. Snatch-ed in the dying moments by 19-year-old Dayann Linyon—who had come on to replace the evening's other Valenciennes goalscorer, Junior Ndiaye—this win doesn't magically wipe away all of VAFC's troubles (without it, they would have found themselves in the relegation zone), but it does a world of good. The victory doesn't erase everything, starting with the questions fans are asking after this start to the season. While they didn't hold back their support, the banners unfurled at the end of the first half spoke volumes about their wariness: "SR [Sport Republic]: three years of sporting failure. What’s the problem?" and its variation: "Players, coaches—everyone does better after leaving VAFC. What’s the problem?" A stern talking-to from the president The victory doesn't erase everything, but it does validate a week of work that began with a stern dressing-down from CEO Yoann Godin—who came to give the squad a piece of his mind on Monday—and continued with a trip to Lewarde to immerse the team in the values of the North. Valenciennes didn’t get everything right on Saturday night, but they deserve credit for taking the lead—opening the scoring from a set-piece after a slow start. It came from a Thibault Maréchal free-kick that Derrick Abu headed into the path of Junior Ndiaye—who was in the starting lineup despite having just returned from Japan, where he had spent the previous week with the UAE U23 squad. The team had to compensate for the absences of Charles Abi (international duty) and Gaëtan Courtet (back issue)—losses that were particularly troublesome for VA, coming on top of the absences of Bryan Passi and Zaïd Amir (also on international duty), Abdelwahed Wahib (suspended), Kylian Kouakou and Samir Belloumou (injured), and Noam Blé (rehab). Despite their best efforts, VA were pegged back before the break, having dropped too deep defensively. However, they deserve great credit for refusing to give up, ultimately securing a long-awaited victory. It is only the beginning, though; Jean Louchet is quick to temper expectations: "It’s still too early to make any bold claims." VALENCIENNES – LE PUY: 2-1 (1-1). Stade du Hainaut. Attendance: 4,362. Referee: Mr. Desroches. Goals: Ndiaye (24'), Linyon (88') for Valenciennes; Gauthier (44') for Le Puy. Bookings: Maréchal (58'), Rouaï (84'), Zogba (90'+2) for Valenciennes; Xhemo (81') for Le Puy. Valenciennes: Louchet; Abu, Goprou, Zogba, Rocchia (Méïté, 73'); Marcel (Boiteau, 73'), Maréchal (Tounkara, 90'+1), Rouaï (capt.); Diomandé (Linyon, 83'), Ndiaye (Nyemb, 90'+1), Ekra. Coach: Pierre Blois. Le Puy: Carvalho; Gomes, Dembélé (Ghalem, 51'), Seidou; Xhemo (capt.); Kouassi, Gauthier (Baret, 61'), Mroivili (Ducourtioux, 85'), Zahibo; Faty (Emmanuel, 61'), Nsingi (Mazaudier, 85'). Coach: Stéphane Dief.

Hello friend. Live in Valenciennes. End match now. Important Victory for VA tonight vs Le Puy en Velay Football. Allez VA ! ❤️🤍

VAFC: "He rarely has an off day"—how Le Puy turned Maël Zogba into a better player There is a "before" and "after" Le Puy for Maël Zogba, whose career had previously been defined by instability. Two seasons in the Velay region allowed him to settle down and take a significant step forward in his development. The 26-year-old center-back is now putting his talents to work for Valenciennes. Both parties will be pleased to reunite this Saturday evening at the Stade du Hainaut. Maël Zogba left Le Puy this summer because Valenciennes wanted him. Le Puy coach Stéphane Dief didn't even try to fight it; "it was pointless for us to try to convince him" to stay. The 26-year-old center-back acknowledges what he owes to the Le Puy club, where he spent two seasons growing as a player while the team moved from the N2 to the National division. But in what ways? Rock-solid reliability What do goalkeepers Franck L’Hostis, Mathis Carvalho, and Gaël Alette have in common with Maël Zogba? None of them missed a single match—or even a single minute—of last season’s National campaign. "Maël is a reliable player," notes a pleased Pierre Blois, who started him in the first seven matches of the season without ever substituting him off. This remarkable statistic speaks volumes about the player's "level of consistency"; as Stéphane Dief observes, "he rarely has an off day." The new Valenciennes signing highlights the "unseen work" he puts in and the confidence shown in him—a welcome change after two previous stints at this level with Chambly (2021–22) and Épinal (2023–Feb. 2024) that met with only limited success. "I was quite young; I needed to learn and develop." A defender who found his wings Expectations for Maël Zogba center primarily on his strengths. "A good defender, solid in duels," lists Stéphane Dief. "He has real ability when it comes to reading the game and anticipating plays—that cunning streak that allows him to compensate for a slight lack of quickness." The Le Puy coach opened up new possibilities for him by evolving the team's tactical setup during the season they won promotion to the National league: "We switched to a back three." In this system, the Dolomieu (Isère) native played on the right side of the defense; he "discovered interesting attacking skills" by taking advantage of a certain amount of freedom. "The coach asked me to take on attacking responsibilities," the player confirms—making overlapping runs with the right wing-back, pushing up the flank, and delivering crosses. "I wasn't used to that; I often found myself near the penalty area, combining with the forwards—sometimes getting very close to them—and it was something I really enjoyed." Pierre Blois didn't hesitate to push him up a notch against Rouen and Fleury, "to add a bit more presence" in midfield. "I felt we were lacking that in previous matches; we came up with the idea, and it worked quite well"—until Abu’s substitution at halftime against Fleury forced the coach to change his plans. Natural leadership The Valenciennes coach has already made Maël Zogba a key point of contact: "We don't hesitate to ask for his take on things. He’s a positive person who tries to lift everyone up." Le Puy captain Renald Xhemo saw him arrive in the summer of 2024 and "make his mark right away; he exudes a great sense of calm." Stéphane Dief describes him as "a very level-headed guy who is pleasant to talk to and shows good common sense." It comes back to the trust placed in him and its benefits: "It allowed me to develop as a footballer and to assert myself," the defender emphasizes. "I was able to develop other qualities, such as leadership." VALENCIENNES vs. LE PUY, Saturday, 8:45 PM, Stade du Hainaut. Broadcast live on Ligue 1+. Absentees: Passi, Amir, Abi (international duty), Wahib (suspended), Belloumou, Kouakou (injured), Blé (reconditioning).

Ligue 3: Christopher Rocchia and Valenciennes reunite after a missed opportunity Christopher Rocchia spent ten days on trial in 2023 and fully expected to sign with Valenciennes, only to see the door close on him. The 28-year-old full-back didn't let the second chance that came his way this summer slip by. He returns to the squad this Saturday after missing the last three matches due to injury. The story of Christopher Rocchia and Valenciennes is one of a missed connection dating back to the summer of 2023 and Sport Republic’s takeover. The full-back—trained at OM, his hometown club and the one closest to his heart—was coming off two Ligue 2 seasons at Dijon, and Ben Chorley wanted him. Discussions between the English sporting director, who was calling the shots at the time, and the player's representative intensified, leading to a ten-day trial at Mont-Houy. "Jean [Louchet] and I arrived at practically the same time." His attacking style clearly didn't suit Jorge Maciel, who was more interested in "a full-back who stays back to act as a third center-back when the team attacks." He opted instead for the Dutchman Lucas Woudenberg—a nice guy, though his performances hardly left a lasting impression in the Hainaut region. So, Christopher Rocchia left just as he had arrived: without bitterness, yet inevitably disappointed after having believed a deal was imminent. "You go home, you reflect. And then you move on; that’s the life of a footballer." "In the end, I was left with nothing" His own life took a strange turn after that episode, however. "I was supposed to sign with Estoril (in Portugal), but it didn’t happen. I had turned down offers from Ligue 2 and National clubs because I didn’t want to drop down a level. In the end, I was left with nothing." A year-long void followed. Then, in July 2024, Aubagne—freshly promoted to the third tier—threw him a lifeline. When VA approached him this summer, 28-year-old Christopher Rocchia saw a chance to set the record straight. "Even though I hadn't signed [back in 2023], I kept thinking that maybe the story wasn't over. Given its history, prestige, and stadium, Valenciennes is currently the biggest club in Ligue 3." And when fate comes knocking a second time, you don't turn up your nose at the opportunity. VALENCIENNES vs. LE PUY, Saturday, 8:45 PM, Stade du Hainaut. Broadcast live on Ligue 1+.

Ligue 3: VA’s season start—blunders and setbacks Everything is going wrong for Valenciennes, who suffered their fourth defeat (in seven games) by conceding a goal in stoppage time against La Roche-sur-Yon, after having valiantly held firm while playing a man down. Their start to the season has been a litany of errors and misfortunes. Five points from seven Ligue 3 matches is woefully inadequate—especially for a team that began the season with the division's second-largest budget and an ambition defined simply as "building something." Already struggling and barely keeping their heads above water, VA is being held back by recurring issues that act like millstones around their ankles. On Saturday, captain Samir Belloumou urged the squad to "ask themselves the right questions": at this point, such a succession of setbacks can no longer be dismissed as mere bad luck. Poorly managed closing stages A week after squandering a match against Fleury—where they threw away a slender first-half lead in just four minutes and missed a last-gasp penalty—VA crumbled in stoppage time at La Roche-sur-Yon. They were beaten by a strike out of nowhere, reminiscent of many goals conceded last season when things were (already) going poorly. The defeat is all the more cruel given VA’s impressive resilience; for seventy-five minutes, playing ten against eleven, they stood their ground against a Vendée side that is notoriously tough to beat on home turf—a venue where they haven't lost since December 2024. Ultimately, however, the result is once again zero points. Blunders The match referee, Edgar Barenton, didn’t hesitate—either in real-time or after reviewing the footage: Abdelwahed Wahib’s kick-out at Hugo Lamy warranted both a penalty and a red card. "We’re shooting ourselves in the foot again," noted a dejected Pierre Blois. VA has made a habit of this: there was the header by Dany Goprou that turned into an assist for Caen’s third goal; the string of errors leading to the opening goal away at Paris 13; another own goal by Goprou; and Rayane Ekra’s missed penalty against Fleury... It is all starting to add up. A makeshift VAR setup In La Roche, the Valenciennes team had no cause to complain about the "Football Video Support" system or its application—it had already caused them enough trouble. On September 3, had the power not been unplugged—an incident that prompted VA to call for an investigation—the referee could have seen from the footage that Rouen should not have been awarded a penalty. Then again, that is no guarantee: the equalizer disallowed for Valenciennes at Caen due to a marginal offside call proves as much. It was also the first mishap of a season that is decidedly off to a bad start.

Hello everyone. I hope you’re all well ? News from Valenciennes: - Following another defeat away at La Roche-sur-Yon, losing 3-2, Valenciennes host Le Puy Foot at the Stade du Hainaut. It’s a must-win game tonight against a beatable opponent. Kick-off is at 8.45 pm French time, and I’ve shared some local press articles below. Whatever the results, Allez VA !

Hello friends, It’s the day the FA makes its decision regarding Tonda; I sincerely hope the FA will be lenient, as I feel the club was already heavily penalized last May... Between the four-point deduction, missing the championship final, the loss of millions of pounds, and the impact on the club's reputation, I think the punishment was very harsh... Hang in there, friends.

Hello friends, how are you doing today? - Some news from Valenciennes: First, I’ve shared three press articles covering the week the club has just gone through. There was the aftermath of last Saturday's defeat—a loss that was a real blow to everyone and raised questions and concerns among the fans. Then came the announcement that Salif Lebouath—who arrived this summer—is being loaned out. Not many people understood the move, especially since he’s going to a club in our own league; though, to be fair, he won't play against us in either of our two matches (a clause negotiated as part of the loan). Salif hasn't really had a chance to prove himself; he hasn't played a single minute in the league, even though he did feature in a friendly. Word is that the club is counting on him heavily for his return at the end of the season—we'll have to wait and see... Training seems to have been productive this week, though the match today is what really matters. We’re playing away today at La Roche-sur-Yon, a club that was promoted to Ligue 3 this season and is currently on a good run of form—unlike VA. I’d love to see a win this afternoon, but it won't be easy... Kick-off is at 2:45 PM French time; I think you’ll be able to watch the match on your local streaming sites (unfortunately, almost everything is blocked here)... Have a great day, friends. Allez VA !

In Ligue 3, VA is stalling while the newly promoted sides are charging ahead Valenciennes is languishing at the bottom of the pack, while the three newly promoted teams—La Roche-sur-Yon, Cannes, and Thionville—reign at the top of Ligue 3. This is a near-constant trend in a division that favors teams riding a wave of momentum. But what drives these smaller clubs? Trailing the Norman sides (Rouen, Caen), the promoted teams are hunting in a pack. While Thionville has slowed slightly after a blistering start, La Roche-sur-Yon and Cannes remain unbeaten in a division that is new to all three but holds no fears for them. Pierre Blois is not surprised to see the Vendée-based side—whom VA visits this Saturday—up there at the top. Unbeaten at home since December 2024, they are playing with great consistency and are well-equipped, boasting players like Mansour Samb (already on six goals), Moïse Mahop, Alexis Araujo, and Momar Ndiaye. As is often the case when a team moves up a level, "they’re riding a wave of momentum that they’re keeping alive; they shared a positive experience and are building on it. When things go well early in the season, this is the result." At Aubagne—which he joined in 2024 just as the club was promoted to the National league—Mabrouk Rouaï found a sense of ease: "We didn't overthink things; everyone was having a laugh. But when we stepped onto the pitch, we knew exactly why we were there." "We were confident in our strengths" The squad had changed significantly from the one that secured promotion, yet it was made up of players with a point to prove and a desire to show their worth. "I place a lot of importance on desire," notes Christopher Rocchia, who was also part of that journey. "Everyone expected us to go down; it was a foregone conclusion. But where there’s a will, there’s a way—though, of course, it also comes down to the quality of the players." Maël Zogba points to the "strength of the squad"—something Le Puy relied on last season to bounce back from a start that was far trickier than the one facing the current newly promoted teams. "We hadn't won a game before Matchday 7, but we had kept the core of the team from our N2 season. We were confident in our strengths; we knew what we were capable of." The team from Le Puy finished seventh, having at one point climbed as high as fourth place. "The important thing was making the players understand that the level they had reached was well-deserved." David Le Frapper, former VAFC player and Bourg-en-Bresse coach (2024–2026) The previous season—the one that saw Boulogne-sur-Mer win promotion to Ligue 2—Bourg-en-Bresse was also firing on all cylinders. "We finished fifth and had the best defense," recalls former Valenciennes player David Le Frapper, who took over the team after Hervé Della Maggiore left for Orléans. "The important thing was making the players understand that the level they had reached was well-deserved." It was a resounding success, followed, however, by a disastrous summer in 2025, during which "you lose 90% of the squad. We had to start all over again from scratch; the hardest season is often the one that follows." The Bresse-based side—finishing 15th—narrowly avoided relegation that time around and were ultimately taken over by new owners. David Le Frapper then moved on. VENDÉE FC LA ROCHE vs. VALENCIENNES, Saturday, 2:45 PM.

VAFC: Pierre Blois on Salif Lebouath’s loan – "I couldn't guarantee him playing time" The Valenciennes squad was becoming overcrowded, leaving Salif Lebouath without a guaranteed spot on the right flank. On Friday, Pierre Blois explained the decision to loan the player to Le Puy—a move that has raised questions since it was first announced. Having missed the squad for matches against Bourg-en-Bresse, Rouen, and Fleury, and having seen only limited action (nine minutes at Caen, twelve against Concarneau) since the season began, Salif Lebouath looked elsewhere—specifically to Le Puy, where he has been loaned—to find better opportunities. The move has drawn attention, given that VAFC had signed the player to a two-year contract just this past spring after recruiting him from Pau (Ligue 2). On Friday, ahead of the away match against La Roche-sur-Yon in Ligue 3, Pierre Blois elaborated on the decision, going beyond the club's brief press release, which had offered no details on the reasoning behind the move. "The goal is for him to come back stronger" The coach has absolutely no complaints about the player: "Salif is a great person; the squad and the staff really like him." He simply "couldn't guarantee him playing time" and didn't want to hold him back. "We have a squad of twenty-six players, which makes organizing training sessions complicated. Salif belongs to us; we need to develop him, and this opportunity came up. The goal is for him to return stronger and more mature, and to become a key part of the team later on"—with the understanding that the loan to Le Puy does not include an option to buy. Pierre Blois does not view the 24-year-old Haute-Garonne native as a right-back—a position where Derrick Abu has established himself as the first-choice option and where Dany Goprou is more than just a stopgap solution. Further up the flank? "We have Kader Diomandé back from injury, and Zaïd (Amir), who performed quite well when he played. We also have Dayann (Linyon) from the academy, and young Christ Zohoré. Simply put, that’s a lot of players." Even so, the situation remains difficult to decipher in terms of sporting policy and the direction VAFC intends to take. Vendée FC La Roche vs. Valenciennes, Saturday, 2:45 PM. Broadcast live on Ligue 1+.

Good evening, everyone. Reflecting on today's match: I don't think there's much to add to what the press articles above have already said. We were well-positioned to win this game, but we lost it—entirely of our own doing... It hasn't been the start to the season we hoped for; we need to turn things around quickly and get back to a winning streak... Have a great night, everyone. Allez VA !

Valenciennes vs. Fleury: disaster strikes for Dany Goprou—"and to top it off, it hits the post..." The Valenciennes defender played an unfortunate starring role in his team's 1–2 defeat to Fleury, scoring an own goal late in the match after squandering a golden opportunity and failing to react quickly enough to the opening goal conceded. He clutched his head in his hands and sank to his knees on the Hainaut pitch, as if the weight of what had just happened was suddenly too heavy to bear. In the space of a few minutes—and the two goals scored by Fleury (75th and 82nd minutes)—Dany Goprou experienced the full cruelty of which football is sometimes capable; the former Rouen player, who arrived in the North this summer, was truly dealt a harsh blow. Yet his afternoon had started well: following up on his excellent performance at Rouen (1–1), Goprou was making his second consecutive start in central defense alongside Bryan Passi, while Maël Zogba played a position further up the pitch. The setup had proven effective in Normandy, and there was no reason to change it—at least not before halftime—after a first half well-managed by the Valenciennes defense. Then, Derrick Abu—described as "sick" by his coach, and having narrowly escaped a red card for a reckless tackle—stayed in the dressing room. Involved in both Fleury goals The versatile Dany Goprou consequently shifted to the right flank. He even came close to scoring—or rather, doubling the lead—connecting with a cross from Luka Boiteau, only to hit a shot that was far too scuffed (60th minute). After a great missed opportunity—and there would be others in which he wasn't involved—and with his defensive line dropping deeper and deeper, the clouds soon began to gather over his head. It started with a fairly innocuous cross from Fleury on the left: Goprou was slow to react at the far post, and Verdier nipped in ahead of him to equalize. The nightmare continued just over five minutes later: a similar cross came in, and this time Goprou—having learned his lesson—got to the ball first. However, he botched the clearance so badly that he scored an own goal of textbook perfection, bringing a world of misery down upon himself. "And to top it off, it hit the post when he was actually trying to defend well," a dumbfounded Samir Belloumou remarked. But sometimes, it just isn't your day...

"The worst-case scenario imaginable": an own goal, a missed penalty, and a team that stopped playing—only to pay the price. After a well-played first half that saw them take the lead, VA tempted fate by sitting too deep against Fleury—who were all too happy to turn the match around (1-2). With three losses in six games, Valenciennes now sits 15th in Ligue 3. A last-minute equalizer penalty sent against the crossbar by Rayane Ekra—following, yet again, interminable minutes of video review—a stunning bicycle kick immediately afterwards from Mabrouk Rouaï that was saved by the opposing keeper, a flurry of red cards for Fleury, and a stadium rumbling first with delight and then with frustration... One could write a whole novel about the final moments of this VA-Fleury clash, as they ran the full gamut of emotions football sometimes offers—including the cruelest ones. "We tried too hard to protect that 1-0 lead, perhaps because we’re lacking a bit of confidence." – Samir Belloumou Yet, the chaotic spectacle and emotional rollercoaster that defined the match's conclusion cannot overshadow the way Pierre Blois’s players let a "pivotal" early-season game slip away. It was the kind of match that can launch a team in the right direction—or leave them tearing their hair out in frustration. The Valenciennes squad is left dealing with the latter—the headache-inducing outcome—after a second half that stood in stark contrast to the first. "We tried too hard to protect that 1-0 lead, perhaps because we’re lacking a bit of confidence," explains captain Samir Belloumou. Sometimes, there isn't much to say... Sitting back too much... VA had been leading since Mabrouk Rouaï’s fine opening goal (23rd minute) and enjoyed loud support from fans—rightly pleased with the spirited performance the team put on before the break. On paper, all the ingredients for a win were there, but by ceasing to play, squandering golden opportunities (Goprou 60th, Boiteau 67th), and sitting too deep, VA fell apart. They suffered the exact outcome that had been looming—a real kick in the teeth—when Dany Goprou turned an innocuous cross into his own net (1-2, 82nd minute). A missed penalty and an own goal: "It’s the worst-case scenario imaginable," lamented Pierre Blois. That is often the price you pay when you stop playing. VALENCIENNES – FLEURY: 1-2 (1-0) 4,539 spectators Goals: Rouaï (23rd) for Valenciennes; Verdier (78th), Goprou (82nd, own goal) Bookings: Karamoko (Fleury, 22nd, 90th); Maréchal (Valenciennes, 28th), Abu (Valenciennes, 38th) Sending-off: Karamoko (Fleury, 90th) VAFC: Louchet; Abu (Boiteau 45th), Passi (capt.), Goprou, Wahib (Belloumou 70th); Rouaï, Zogba, Maréchal (Courtet 85th); Amir (Diomande 60th), Abi (Ndiaye 85th), Ekra. Coach: Pierre Blois FLEURY: Alette; Cisse (Anne 69th), Colombo, Karamoko, Jean-Pierre; Le Méhauté (Khetir 69th), Lelevé, Lefebvre, Verdier (Badin 85th); Rivas, Lavigne (Homsa 69th). Etr: Maxime D’Ornano

Ligue 3 : après Issa Tounkara, Christ Zohoré à partir de janvier, le VAFC cible le continent africain - La Voix du Nord

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