Kamory Doumbia, Sinayoko on target as Ligue 1 season commences

The 2025/26 French Ligue 1 new season kicked off this week with African players contributing goals and assists for their respective clubs. Malian international Kamory Doumbia scored a brace, with his national team comrade Lassine Sinayoko also on target.

Doumbia scored twice in Brest’s thrilling 3-3 draw against Lille at the Stade Francis Le Blé. Doumbia, 22, led the Breton club to come back from two goals down. The pacy player struck in the 34th and 51st minutes. Guinea-Bissau international Mama Baldé assisted Doumbia’s second goal. Congolese midfielder Ngalayel Mukau struck on his Lille debut as both sides shared the spoils on the opening week.

Auxerre started their season with a slender 1-0 win over Lorient. Malian striker Sinayoko bagged the solitary goal in the second half after being fed by Ghanaian Ibrahim Osman.

Sinayoko has attracted interest from other Ligue 1 clubs as Auxerre continue fighting to keep him for another season at the club.

Elsewhere, Senegalese player Rassoul Ndiaye scored for Le Havre in their 3-1 league defeat to Monaco. His countryman Lamine Camara provided an assist for Monaco on the opening week.

On Friday, Habib Beye’s Stade Rennes kicked off their season with an astounding 1-0 win over Olympique de Marseille. The Senegalese coach’s charges played much of the tie a man down following a direct red card shown to Moroccan Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal in the first half.