One to Watch: Prosper Peter poised to prosper for Angers SCO
Angers SCO supporters could have been forgiven for expecting the worst on Sunday at Raymond-Kopa. Their week had already been dominated by the departure of Estéban Lepaul – their key forward of the past two seasons – to Stade Rennais. When the former favourite opened the scoring for his new club midway through the first half, it felt like insult added to injury.
Prosper Peter poached a precious point
But Angers’ response was full of resilience, and the figure at the heart of their fightback was Prosper Peter, an academy striker making his first Ligue 1 McDonald's start. Just 18 years and 22 days old, the Paris-born forward equalised with a fine near-post header from Yassin Belkhdim’s cross to secure a 1-1 draw and a precious point.
Peter’s goal was the headline moment, but his overall contribution mattered just as much. His coach Alexandre Dujeux praised the teenager for “getting down to the dirty work,” repeatedly contesting long balls, stretching Rennes’ defence, and refusing to be intimidated by the occasion. “He’s a generous player, full of energy, and he deserved this reward,” said Dujeux. “We tried to take the pressure off him before the match, and he responded with maturity.”
Stepping into Lepaul’s shoes
The contrast with Lepaul was striking. The 25-year-old showed his poacher’s instincts by converting Quentin Merlin’s cross, before fading in the second half. Angers’ fans may have felt a twinge of loss, but Peter’s emergence softened the blow.
The reality, however, is stark: Angers’ transfer restrictions mean that Dujeux has only Peter and fellow youngster Lanroy Machine as centre-forward options for the season ahead. Between them, the pair had played just 64 Ligue 1 minutes before Sunday. That lack of depth poses a challenge, but it also accelerates Peter’s pathway.
A new name among Ligue 1’s young strikers
Ligue 1 McDonald's has built a reputation for fast-tracking attacking talent, and Peter’s goal instantly places him among the new wave of emerging forwards. He is younger than Elye Wahi was when he broke through at Montpellier, and his precocity mirrors that of players like Mathys Tel and Eliesse Ben Seghir, who announced themselves in similar fashion.
While Lepaul’s €15m move to Rennes shows clubs have to pay a reasonably high market value of proven Ligue 1 goalscorers, Peter’s rise is a reminder of how quickly opportunities can open for academy products in France’s top flight.
What next for Angers and Peter?
Angers sit on four points after three demanding fixtures – against Paris FC, Paris Saint-Germain, and Rennes – and Dujeux knows tougher battles lie ahead. But if Sunday’s draw proved anything, it is that Peter looks ready to Prosper.
Still raw and developing, he cannot be expected to carry the attack single-handedly across the campaign. But for a club navigating financial restrictions, his progress is not just a bonus – it is essential. As Dujeux put it: “He’s someone who shines, who is adored by the group, and who has a positive nature. The others love him. There’s still a lot of work to do, but it’s a superb start.”
On a difficult afternoon for Angers, Prosper Peter gave a glimpse of what the future might look like – and the hopes for SCO supporters is that he can live up to his name and prosper in the coming months.
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