Ligue 1 Faces Key Moments: Lens Tops the Table, CAN 2025 to Impact Clubs, and Uncertainty over 2026-27 Season Start

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) is set to significantly disrupt Ligue 1, with an estimated 59 players from the French top flight expected to be called up for the tournament scheduled in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026. This impact is a reflection of the historic and strong ties between French football and Africa, with the competition occurring right in the middle of the league season. Clubs across Ligue 1 are gearing up for these influential absences that will reshape their squads during this crucial period.

Among the most affected clubs will be OGC Nice, potentially losing seven key players including Yehvann Diouf, Hicham Boudaoui, Antoine Mendy, Terem Moffi, Jérémie Boga, and Ali Abdi, plus possibly Sofiane Diop, their current top scorer who recently returned to the Moroccan national side. Paris FC will also feel the loss deeply with six players likely participating in CAN, including influential Algerians Ilan Kebbal and Samir Chergui, and Moses Simon. Lille will be diminished by the absence of top scorer Hamza Igamane and defenders Aïssa Mandi and Chancel Mbemba, while Le Havre could lose five players including both their goalkeepers, Mory Diaw and Lionel Mpasi.

Other top Ligue 1 sides are not exempt from the CAN impact. Olympique de Marseille expect to be without three players, including Bilal Nadir and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, with Amine Gouiri sidelined due to injury. Paris Saint-Germain will be without the newly capped Senegalese international Ibrahim Mbaye. Meanwhile, Lens might see fewer players affected, with Malian Mamadou Sangaré a likely absentee. Lyon faces the loss of Moussa Niakhaté and Clinton Mata in central defense, which could test their defensive stability. Toulouse, with just Frank Magri called up, is set to be the least affected club by the tournament.

In terms of nationalities, the Senegalese contingent leads with 12 Ligue 1 players expected to play at CAN 2025, followed by Côte d’Ivoire (7), Morocco and Mali (6 each), and Algeria and Cameroon (5 each). This underlines the broad African influence in the league and presages the challenge clubs will face replacing their star players mid-season.

On the domestic competition front, RC Lens has seized a momentous opportunity by taking the lead in Ligue 1 for the first time since 2004. Their 2-1 away victory over Angers was powered by a double from Florian Thauvin, who delivered at key moments including just before halftime and deep into the second half. Lens's disciplined performance and attacking prowess underscore their growing stature this season under Pierre Sage.

Simultaneously, Lille recorded a crucial 1-0 win over Le Havre at the Stade Océane, thanks to a late strike from Hamza Igamane, who also faces national team duties at CAN 2025. Despite playing down a man after Ayyoub Bouaddi was sent off for a second career red card, Lille’s defense stood firm, with goalkeeper Berke Özer making vital saves to secure the victory. This win lifts Lille to fourth place, bringing them closer to Marseille and highlighting their competitive intent.

Meanwhile, major French clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique de Marseille face a congested and challenging stretch, compounded by the upcoming CAN 2025 call-ups and evolving league dynamics. As the season progresses, the depth and adaptability of squads will be crucial amid this unique season shaped by continental tournaments and international commitments.

Looking forward, Ligue 1 officials face an unresolved question regarding the start date of the 2026-2027 season. The league is tentatively aiming for August 22, 2026, a relatively late kickoff influenced by the inaugural 48-team FIFA World Cup spanning from June 11 to July 19 across Mexico, Canada, and the United States. Players will require 21 days of rest before resuming club duties, but some stakeholders favor an earlier start on August 15 to better align with broadcasting schedules and competition rhythms. The final decision is expected after the LFP’s upcoming board meeting and general assembly.

The coming months promise to bring a complex blend of intense Ligue 1 battles, significant player absences due to the African Cup of Nations, and the challenge of calendar management ahead of the expanded World Cup. Clubs will need strategic acumen and squad depth to navigate this period successfully.