Moussa Niakhate: Lyon defender worried about club’s recent dip in form

French Ligue 1 club, Olympique Lyon are gradually losing the grip on playing in the UEFA Champions League next season after dropping valuable home points against Paris FC in Ligue 1 last Sunday.

The dip in form has become a source of worry for Senegal defender Moussa Niakhaté who has explained the reasons behind the dire situation.

“Je ne sais pas si c’est bien d’être trop honnête, mais physiquement ça commence à être dur”

Constat lucide de l’homme du match Moussa Niakhaté 🇸🇳#OLPFC pic.twitter.com/5Ta2wKfnDZ

— L1+ (@ligue1plus) March 8, 2026

Moussa Niakhaté has 28 caps for the Senegal

“I don’t know if it’s the right thing to say, but I’ll be honest, physically it’s starting to get tough. We felt it from the start of the match because we wanted to play with intensity. But it was difficult to make the effort.

“If you saw players like Endrick or Tolisso on the bench, it’s not because we underestimated Paris FC, but quite the opposite, because Ligue 1 remains our priority.

“But when there are players who can’t start the match because they’re physically exhausted, well, that’s just how it is.” he reacted on Ligue 1+.

Niakhaté, who played six games in Senegal’s run up to their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations glory, has made 23 Ligue 1 appearances this season.

He has 28 caps for the two time African champions with club experience at Valenciennes, Metz, Mainz and Nottingham Forest.

Lyon now have 46 points

Lyon lost their third place in the standings and are starting to feel the effects of their recent struggles.

After an impressive run of thirteen consecutive victories in all competitions, Olympique Lyonnais have been a shadow of their former selves for the past few weeks.

Eliminated from the Coupe de France in the quarterfinals by Lens, they are also on a three-match winless streak in the league and have been overtaken by Marseille for third place.

Lyon now have 46 points, same as Marseille but the latter sit on 19-goals advantage after 25 league games this season.

Lyon facing crucial weeks

The coming weeks could prove decisive for the Rhone-based club as they attempt to stabilize their season. Lyon had looked like one of the strongest teams in the French top flight earlier in the campaign, but their recent drop in form has raised concerns among supporters and analysts alike.

For Moussa Niakhaté, the situation highlights how demanding the season has become, especially with matches coming thick and fast in both domestic and European competitions. The defender believes the squad must quickly rediscover its rhythm if they are to remain competitive in the race for Champions League qualification.

Physical fatigue affecting performances

The Senegal international pointed out that fatigue has begun to affect several players in the squad. With a packed schedule and limited recovery time, maintaining the same level of intensity has become increasingly difficult.

Despite these challenges, Moussa Niakhaté remains confident that Lyon possess the quality required to bounce back. According to the defender, the team must stay united and focus on improving its performances in the upcoming fixtures.

A crucial battle for Champions League spots

With only a few points separating several teams in the standings, the battle for the Champions League places remains wide open. Lyon’s recent struggles have allowed rivals such as Marseille to move ahead in the table, making the competition even more intense.

If Lyon want to secure a place in Europe’s premier club competition next season, they will need to quickly return to winning ways. Much will depend on the defensive stability provided by experienced players like Moussa Niakhaté, whose leadership at the back will be essential during the final stretch of the campaign.