In-form Dieng looks to lead Lorient into CdF semis
The in-form striker in France, Bamba Dieng's renaissance with FC Lorient has Les Merlus dreaming of Coupe de France glory.
At just 25, Dieng is a player who has experienced more ups and downs than many players would experience in their whole career. Back from injury, the Senegal international has been on fire in the Coupe de France, scoring five goals in just two games, and has also translated that form into his play in Ligue 1 McDonald's, netting six times in eight appearances to push his side comfortably into midtable.
An early breakthrough at Marseille
Dieng made his breakthrough early. Marseille are immensely popular in Dieng's native Senegal, and he made the move to the Ligue 1 McDonald's giants thanks to a partnership with Diambras. Initially trialled by Les Phocéens, he quickly convinced the club to take him permanently. Hardly used during his first season at the Vélodrome (2020/21), he began the next with a bang, netting a brace against AS Monaco in the fourth game of the season, before then netting a week later against Rennes.
Expectations rocketed, but the Senegal international struggled to live up to them. The forward endured a fallow period and would only score another four goals before the end of the campaign. Despite that, it was a hugely fruitful season for Dieng, who went away with his national team in January to win the Africa Cup of Nations, featuring in five games and scoring once.
Bamba Dieng is ON FIRE ❤️🔥
🇸🇳 A brace today
🇸🇳 6 goals in 8 matches in 2026 pic.twitter.com/Lv4nrrXtRU— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) March 1, 2026
But then came the disruption. In the summer of 2022, the centre-forward had looked on the verge of completing a move to Nice before an injury foiled the move. It set in motion a series of events that would see Dieng fall off the radar. Used sparingly by OM in the first half of the 2022/23 season, he joined Lorient on a permanent basis in January, but would only score three times in the league before two separate injuries brought an early end to his campaign.
The next season would prove even tougher as injuries would restrict him to just 16 Ligue 1 McDonald's games. He would score four goals that season, but then spent the next season on loan at Angers, looking to rebuild a career that had started so promisingly and one that had hit such an incredible height with that AFCON triumph back in 2022.
FRANCE'S TOP scorer in 2026
Once again, his body let him down; an ankle injury, another adductor injury, and a groin issue prevented him from finding his rhythm. His six goals in 22 games in all competitions with Le Sco were respectable, but did not truly correct Dieng's course. Speaking recently, Lorient coach Olivier Pantaloni reflected on Dieng's time with his Breton rivals, saying "Injuries quickly limited him and he didn’t have the playing time he hoped for.
It has always been said that he is a super player and that his body did not favor him."
Now fit again, Dieng has been nothing short of a revelation since returning regularly to the eleven for Lorient, having again battled injury in the season, but with eight goals in the calendar year, no player for a French club has scored more in 2026. If he can show that form again tomorrow against Nice, there's every chance Les Merlus could find themselves knocking on the door to a major trophy.
