Nantes' Forward Mostafa Mohamed celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal during the match with Lille. Photo courtesy of Nantes Facebook page.
Despite being sparingly used as a substitute this season amid reported rift with coach Antoine Kombouaré, the 27-year-old once again demonstrated his clutch ability, scoring a dramatic 83rd-minute winner just 13 minutes after entering the pitch.
The high-stakes encounter saw Nantes battling to escape relegation, while Lille sought to maintain their top-half position in the league table.
Mohamed showcased his predatory instincts, pouncing on a pinpoint cross from Nigerian teammate Moses Simon on the left flank and directing a powerful close-range header into the bottom-left corner.
The striker then sprinted to the stands to celebrate with his wife and young daughter.
The goal marked Mohamed’s third in Ligue 1 this season and his first since ending a five-match drought dating back to February’s clash with Reims.
It also stands as his fourth across all competitions, complemented by one assist.
Mohamed was available for transfer during both the winter and summer windows but failed to secure a move, as confirmed by Nantes coach Kombouaré in January..
Mohamed’s tenure at Nantes has been inconsistent since his loan move from Galatasaray in summer 2022.
After a stellar debut season with 11 goals and five assists in 51 games, which earned him a permanent deal in July 2023, he followed up with eight goals in 29 appearances the next campaign.
Despite his struggles at the club level, Mohamed remains a vital asset for the Egyptian national team, having scored 13 goals in 45 appearances since his international debut for the Pharaohs in 2019.
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