FC Nantes sidelines international winger, Poirier's call sparks talk

At the Stade de la Beaujoire on Saturday, the Canaries (Canaris) celebrated a 2‑0 win over Pau while the matchday squad omitted 19‑year‑old winger Moustapha Dabo.

The exclusion has prompted questions about a new selection made by head coach Grégory Poirier.

Dabo, regarded as one of Nantes’ promising academy talents, was not called into the professional group.

His absence was highlighted by Emmanuel Merceron, who noted the missing name.

A follower of the Canaries posted on social media asking whether Dabo and Merrifield had already departed on international duty.

FCNHistory quickly replied that Dabo was not on international selection at the time of the Pau encounter.

The club’s insider added that Dabo had trained with the reserve side the day before the match.

Consequently, his omission cannot be explained by an international call‑up.

International pedigree versus club role

FCNHistory also observed that Dabo had completely disappeared after his appearance against Rodez.

The account pointed out the contrast between his status as a France U20 International and his current placement in the fifth tier, National 2.

Dabo has indeed been called up to the France U20 team, gaining valuable experience for his age.

Nevertheless, he appears distant from Grégory Poirier’s immediate plans.

Whether this signals a marginalisation remains unclear, as the staff have offered no public explanation.

The lingering question is whether Dabo must continue to wait for another professional opportunity.

The remainder of the season will be crucial for his development, and Nantes supporters will watch his progress closely.

FCNHistory reiterated that Dabo trained with the reserves yesterday, underscoring his current peripheral role.

The tweet concluded that the club can choose not to trust its young Internationals.