Ismaël Boura and Mouhamed Diop, of ESTAC Troyes, scored their first Ligue 1 goals in the 2-0 win over Le Mans. The Comorian full-back was returning from a hip injury that had kept him out since pre-season.
ESTAC Troyes secured a 2-0 win over Le Mans in Ligue 1, driven by goals from Ismaël Boura, a Comorian international left-back, and Mouhamed Diop, a Senegalese midfielder, according to L’Équipe. For both men, who arrived in summer 2023 after relegation to Ligue 2, these are their first goals in the top flight. A symbol for these driving forces behind last season’s promotion.
Seriously injured in a hip during pre-season, Boura, 26 and with 12 caps for the Comoros, had not yet played this season. Coming on in the 66th minute, he scored in the 71st. Diop, for his part, found the net on his ninth Ligue 1 appearance.
Boura, first goal on his 35th appearance
Ismaël Boura’s performance is all the more remarkable for coming after a long absence. Trained at Lens, where he played his first 34 Ligue 1 matches before a loan to HAC in 2021-2022, the 26-year-old full-back had to wait until his 35th appearance in the top flight to score his first goal.
Troyes coach Stéphane Dumont made no secret of his satisfaction: “It’s a particularly nice twist of fate for Ismaël, rewarding his ability to stay hugely positive, close to the group and involved.” He added: “It’s a real form of release for him after three months of frustration.” Comments gathered by L’Équipe.
Diop, an unusual path
Mouhamed Diop opened his Ligue 1 account on just his ninth appearance. A former Sacré Coeur de Dakar player, the Senegalese midfielder then joined Kocaelispor in Turkey (2021-2022), then Sheriff Tiraspol in Moldova (2022-2023), before arriving at Troyes in summer 2023. He helped the club win promotion last season.
That path took him to the top flight, where he scored his first goal against Le Mans, in the ninth match of his Ligue 1 career.
A win over Le Mans
The two scorers, who arrived after relegation to Ligue 2, were driving forces behind last season’s promotion. The 2-0 win comes as Boura, named among the Comoros’ left-backs, returns to action after three months out.