Carried off on a stretcher after a dangerous tackle from behind by defender Ismael Doukoure in Lyon‘s 2-1 victory over Strasbourg on Sunday, Malick Fofana is suffering from a ‘serious sprain to his right ankle, accompanied by injuries that will most likely require surgery,’ the club said in a statement.
While the length of his absence remains to be determined, the Belgian forward is expected to be sidelined ‘for several months’. According to reports from Olympique-et-Lyonnais and L’Equipe, his return may not happen until early next year.
“Olympique Lyonnais will take all necessary measures to ensure Malick Fofana receives the best medical care and support during his rehabilitation, with a view to him returning to the squad as soon as possible.”
Fofana, 20, has played 12 matches in all competitions with OL this season, scoring two goals and providing one assist. As Paulo Fonseca’s team’s main offensive asset, he will be sorely missed in a squad that is already limited, having already been without Orel Mangala and Ernest Nuamah for many months due to serious knee injuries.
Capped on five occasions with Belgium, he took advantage of the September international break to open his goalscoring account against Liechtenstein. Having been called up again in October, he will therefore miss the last get-together of 2025, less than a year before the 2026 World Cup.
