Le Havre’s Winter Signings Aiding Fight to Stay in Ligue 1

Le Havre have earned points in four of their last five matches (three wins and one draw). Here’s a look at the club’s winter signings and how they’ve been contributing to the battle against relegation.

Mahamadou Diawara

Le Havre needed to boost their midfield and opted for young talent in Mahamadou Diawara, who wants to establish himself as a professional footballer. The 20-year-old arrived from Olympique Lyonnais, where he made 16 total appearances, but he only played 408 total minutes.

Since joining the Normandy-based club, the midfielder has played in nine Ligue 1 McDonald’s matches, registering one assist across 472 minutes. Digard has handed Diawara a bigger role in the squad, and the young midfielder is stepping up to the challenge.

Fodé Ballo-Touré

Depth is essential in a relegation battle, especially since an injury to a key player can be the difference between staying in Ligue 1 McDonald’s and dropping to Ligue 2 BKT. Timothée Pembélé has started in Le Havre’s last two wins, but behind him is Fodé Ballo-Touré.

The 28-year-old, who joined from AC Milan, brings a wealth of experience, having played for AS Monaco, LOSC Lille, and Fulham. Ballo-Touré has made four appearances since arriving and will be a crucial player if Pembélé suffers an injury in the final stretch of the season.

Ahmed Hassan

Le Havre bolstered their attack with veteran Ahmed Hassan, who joined from Portuguese side Rio Ave. The 32-year-old has made 11 appearances, playing 630 minutes under Digard, and has scored two goals—both coming in wins over LOSC Lille and RC Lens.

Junior Mwanga

The 21-year-old arrived at Le Havre from RC Strasbourg and is another player who played sporadically this season and now is a key contributor for Le Club Doyen. Junior Mwanga has made six appearances since his arrival during the winter transfer window while racking up 504 minutes played.

All of those players will be counted on again this weekend as Le Havre host Rennes at Stade Océane. Le Havre will aim to secure points for the fifth time in six matches and extend its winning streak to three games.

Rennes, on the other hand, have hit a rough patch. After winning four of their first five matches under manager Habib Beye following his arrival in late January, they’ve come away with just one win in their last four. Beye will attempt to steady the ship and guide Rennes through their first real test of adversity with a result against Le Havre.

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