Mory Diaw: from PSG outcast to Le Havre's saviour

Mory Diaw never played for formative club Paris Saint-Germain, but he has carved out a solid career in Ligue 1 McDonald's and could yet prove to be Le Havre AC's saviour this season.

Diaw the difference

Every point counts in the fight for relegation, and in recent weeks, Diaw has been crucial in securing a couple of them. It was the Senegal international who helped Le HAC go to the Allianz Riviera and secure a precious point against relegation rivals OGC Nice back in April. He pulled off some stunning saves, notably from Mohamed-Ali Cho and then, late in the game, from Jonathan Clauss, as they secured a 1-1 draw.

Diaw stood up to be counted once again last weekend. He frustrated Lille OSC, with Bruno Genesio bemoaning a lack of luck in front of goal. Diaw made no fewer than nine stops on the day. On that occasion, he kept a clean sheet (0-0).

It means that, with two gameweeks remaining in the Ligue 1 McDonald's season, Didier Digard's side are well placed to conserve their position in France's top flight. Le HAC are 14th, one point ahead of Nice in 15th, and a further three points ahead of AJ Auxerre, who currently occupy the relegation playoff spot.

10 Senegalese stars from Ligue 1 called up for AFCON 2025! ✨

🇸🇳 Mory Diaw
🇸🇳 Yehvann Diouf
🇸🇳 Moussa Niakhate
🇸🇳 Krepin Diatta
🇸🇳 Mamadou Sarr
🇸🇳 Antoine Mendy
🇸🇳 Lamine Camara
🇸🇳 Habib Diallo
🇸🇳 Cheikh Sabaly
🇸🇳 Ibrahim Mbaye pic.twitter.com/PoPbZ7DQVy
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) December 13, 2025

Le Havre also have an identical goal difference to Le Havre and the joint-fewest goals conceded among the bottom 10. It is only a lack of goals at the other end that has prevented Le Havre from looking up the table, rather than over their shoulder this season.

He also gave his side the best chance possible of beating his formative club, PSG, by saving a penalty from Désiré Doué back in February. "I am from their academy; I watch all of their matches," said Diaw, who said that he saw Doué's penalty against Liverpool and this informed him which was to go when the France international stepped up to the spot against Le Havre. Diaw would make the save, but Le Havre would go on to lose 1-0 as a result of Bradley Barcola's first-half strike.

Journeyman diaw flourishes on France return

Naturally, Diaw, who went off to represent Senegal at AFCON, was disappointed never to make it with Les Parisiens. However, that has not prevented him from having an established career. He has four international caps to his name, as well as 95 appearances in Ligue 1 McDonald's.

A journeyman goalkeeper, he has played in Portugal with Mafra, with Lokomotiv Plovdiv in Bulgaria, and in Switzerland with United Zurich and Lausanne-Sport. It is with the latter that he impressed the most, setting him on a course for a return to France, where he would play for Clermont Foot and then at Rodez in Ligue 2 BKT.

He then joined Le Hac at the start of the season, and despite his AFCON-related absence, he has played 28 league games, with Digard clear that Diaw is his uncontested No.1. He has justified the faith of his manager and secured valuable points that could secure their safety in the top-flight.

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