Heartbreak for Nigeria’s Awaziem as Lens defeat ends Nantes’ 13-year Ligue 1 stay

Nigeria defender Chidozie Awaziem was left devastated on Friday night after FC Nantes were officially relegated from Ligue 1 following a painful 1-0 defeat to title-chasing RC Lens, Soccernet.ng reports.

The result at Stade Bollaert-Delelis confirmed Nantes' fall into Ligue 2 with one match still left to play this season.

The eight-time French champions remain stuck on 23 points, five behind AJ Auxerre in the relegation play-off place, making survival mathematically impossible. It brings an end to Nantes' 13-year stay in the French top flight dating back to their promotion in the 2012-13 campaign.

The club had fought desperately in recent weeks to avoid disaster, including a morale-boosting 3-0 victory over Marseille, but their poor run across the season eventually caught up with them.

The decisive moment arrived in the 79th minute when 16-year-old Lens debutant Mezian Soares produced a dream moment. Only seconds after being introduced from the bench, the teenager scored with his very first touch to break Nantes' resistance and send the home supporters into celebration.

Awaziem played the full 90 minutes and again showed why he has been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise difficult campaign. The Super Eagles defender battled throughout the night against Lens’ relentless attack and finished the match with several important clearances and blocks.

The 28-year-old had recently been named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Week after an outstanding display against Marseille.

Awaziem shines despite Nantes collapse

Although Nantes’ season ended in disappointment, Awaziem’s personal performances have attracted praise across France.

The Nigerian centre-back featured in 26 Ligue 1 matches this season and started 24 of them, becoming one of the leaders of the defence during a difficult year for the club. He finished the campaign with one goal and two assists, impressive numbers for a defender in a team that struggled badly in attack.

Awaziem also established himself as one of Ligue 1’s busiest defenders. He led the division in clearances with 158 and ranked among the league’s strongest aerial defenders, winning more than 67 percent of his duels in the air.

Nantes’ bigger problem was at the other end of the pitch. The club managed only five wins in 32 league matches and scored just 29 goals throughout the season. Their leading scorer, Matthis Abline, finished with only a modest tally of six, while the team suffered long winless stretches that dragged them deeper into danger.

The relegation adds another difficult chapter to Awaziem’s career, which has regularly involved battling against relegation across Europe. Since leaving El-Kanemi Warriors for FC Porto in 2014, the Nigerian international has played in Portugal, Turkey, Spain, Croatia, the United States and France.

He previously had loan spells at Nantes, Çaykur Rizespor and Leganés before later moving through Boavista, Hajduk Split and Major League Soccer sides FC Cincinnati and Colorado Rapids.

Awaziem returned permanently to Nantes in July 2025 on a three-year deal, hoping to help stabilise the club. Instead, he now faces another uncertain summer as questions grow over whether he will remain to help Nantes fight for promotion or seek another move in Ligue 1.