The 21-year-old suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee just five minutes into the match following a heavy challenge from Lille defender Gabriel Gudmundsson. He was forced off the pitch and replaced by Rayan Cherki.

“Olympique Lyonnais is mourning the serious injury suffered by Ernest Nuamah, who suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on Saturday evening. Good luck, Ernest,” a club statement said on Monday.

Nuamah had been in fine form prior to the setback, contributing four goals and one assist in his last six outings for both club and country.

This injury is a significant blow not only for Lyon but also for Ghana’s national team, where Nuamah has become a key figure with his pace, creativity, and attacking flair.

Just a week before the injury, Nuamah played a starring role in Ghana’s 5-0 demolition of Chad in an international friendly at the Accra Sports Stadium, scoring in that dominant performance on March 21, 2025.

His absence adds to a worrying injury trend among Ghanaian internationals, with Nuamah now becoming the sixth Black Stars player to suffer an ACL injury in the last two years.

As Ghana prepares for crucial World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Mali in September, head coach Otto Addo faces a mounting challenge in rebuilding his squad amid a growing list of key absentees.

Lyon entered the second-leg clash with a comfortable 3-0 advantage from the first meeting and wasted no time asserting dominance.

Georges Mikautadze opened the scoring in the 14th minute, setting the tone for the night.

Nuamah doubled the lead in the 37th minute with a clinical close-range finish, giving Lyon a 2-0 advantage at halftime.

Mikautadze struck again just two minutes into the second half, securing his brace and putting the French side in firm control.

As the match neared its end, Mikautadze turned provider, setting up Nuamah for his second goal of the evening, capping off a resounding 4-0 victory.

With a dominant 7-1 aggregate scoreline, Olympique Lyon comfortably booked their place in the Europa League quarter-finals.

Nuamah will look to maintain his fine form when Lyon host Andre Ayew’s Le Havre at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais on Sunday.

He is also expected to be included in Ghana’s squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar later this month.

After a goalless first half, Rayan Cherki broke the deadlock in the 78th minute.

Just five minutes later, Nuamah sealed the win with a stunning long-range strike from outside the 18-yard box, securing all three points for Lyon.

Thiago Almada was instrumental in both goals, providing the assists that led to Lyon’s triumph.

With this goal, the former FC Nordsjaelland forward has now scored three times in Ligue 1 this season, along with one assist in 20 appearances.

The win has propelled Lyon to 6th place with 42 points. They will face FCSB in the Europa League on Thursday before hosting Le Havre on Sunday.

The 21-year-old has been linked with a potential move to Goodison Park during the January transfer window.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday ahead of their match against Tottenham Hotspur, Moyes addressed the rumours, saying, “He’s a player that I know we’ve been looking at, but I couldn’t say for sure that it’s done or even underway unless there’s something happening that I’m unaware of.

“We’re considering several players, and Ernest Nuamah is one of them. Hopefully, we can make some signings before the window closes,” he added,” he added.

Everton’s pursuit of Nuamah underlines their determination to strengthen their squad as they aim to improve their standing in the Premier League.

Nuamah has endured a slow start to the season at Lyon, making only 18 appearances.

However, the Ghana international showcased his potential last season, recording four goals and three assists in 51 appearances for the French side.

The Ghana international was closely linked with Fulham and Everton on transfer deadline day. Fulham had agreed on a €19 million transfer fee with Lyon for Nuamah, but the move ultimately fell through.

According to French publication L’Equipe, Nuamah was unwilling to join Fulham and was emotionally distressed by Lyon’s pressure to finalize the transfer.

The report states that the former FC Nordsjaelland attacker broke down in tears when a Fulham delegation traveled to France to complete the deal.

However, Nuamah went missing during the medical examination, causing the transfer to collapse.

Lyon owner John Textor has reportedly sent Nuamah a message apologizing for attempting to force him into the move. Nuamah had joined Lyon on a permanent basis in July after a successful loan period with the club.

During his loan stint with Lyon last season, Nuamah made 33 appearances, scoring three goals and providing two assists.

His contributions helped the team climb from the relegation zone to qualify for the Europa League by finishing sixth.

Meanwhile, Ernest Nuamah has been excluded from Ghana’s squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Angola and Niger.

Nuamah picked up the injury during Olympique Lyon’s Ligue 1 clash against AS Monaco on Saturday.

He was substituted in the 18th minute by Georges Mikautadze, and Lyon subsequently lost the match 2-0, leaving them at the bottom of the league table with no points.

The severity of Nuamah’s injury is still being assessed, but it is expected to sideline him for Ghana’s upcoming qualifiers against Angola and Niger in September.

The Black Stars are scheduled to play Angola at the Baba Yara Stadium on September 5 and then travel to Niger for their second match on September 9.

Otto Addo, who is the head coach of the team has already submitted his squad for these crucial qualifiers to the Executive Council of Ghana’s football governing body.

However, reports suggest that no players from the Ghana Premier League have been included in the squad.

Addo is anticipated to deploy a strong lineup as Ghana strives to qualify for the AFCON, which will be hosted in Morocco next year.

The Black Stars are aiming to build on their recent success, having secured consecutive victories against Mali and the Central African Republic in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in June.

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Nuamah, who joins from Belgian Pro League club Molenbeek, has agreed to a 4-year contract that will keep him at Lyon until June 30, 2028.

Lyon invested €28.5 million to secure the services of the speedy winger, who was on loan with them last season.

In a statement released on the club’s website on Sunday, the club praised Nuamah, calling him a dynamic, fast, and impactful forward.

“A dynamic, fast, and impactful forward, Ernest Nuamah—who made his mark at Nordsjaelland in Denmark between January 2022 and August 2023 (49 matches / 20 goals)—has, through his performances, convinced his coach and club officials to extend his stay at OL.

“Possessing exceptional qualities and great potential for development, the 20-year-old Ghanaian international (11 caps) will resume training on Monday, July 8.”

Ernest Nuamah s’engage à l’Olympique Lyonnais jusqu’en 2028. ??

? Lire le communiqué ? https://t.co/3sexQhxTQG pic.twitter.com/2sVyfJp7p7

— Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) July 7, 2024

Last season, Nuamah made 33 appearances for Lyon in Ligue 1 and the French Cup, scoring three goals and providing two assists.

Nuamah, who has 11 caps played a crucial role in Ghana’s recent victories over Mali and the Central African Republic in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

He is now set to continue his journey with Olympique Lyonnais.

The former FC Nordsjaelland attacker earned the nomination following his fine performance during the 2022/23 football season and the ongoing campaign.

The Black Stars winger will have to beat off competition from Alio (Senegal), Souleymane, Gift Orban (Nigeria), Bilal El Khannouss (Morocco), Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Morocco), Pape Diop (Senegal), Papa Amadou Diallo), Lamine Camara (Senegal), Amara Diuf (Senegal), and Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso),

The 20-year-old gained prominence during his first full season in European football with Nordsjaelland last season, where he scooped three prestigious awards.

He bagged the Young Player of the Year, Best Player for Spring (chosen by coaches), and Player of the Season (selected by fellow players) in the Danish top-flight last campaign.

The highly-rated attacker racked up 15 goals and provided 4 assists in 34 games for Nordjaelland. His impressive performance did not go unnoticed as he secured a big-money move to French giants, Olympique Lyon in the summer window.

Nuamah made his debut for the Black Stars in June, coming on as a substitute when Ghana played Madagascar in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers. He has since established himself as a regular, scoring three goals for the national team.

He also showcased his skills at the U23 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, contributing a goal in three games.

Per a statement released by CAF, the ceremony will be held on Monday, December 11, 2023, in the city of Marrakesh, Morocco.

Below are the nominees for the 2023 CAF Young Player of the Year award:

Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso and Bournemouth)

Souleymane Alio (Burkina Faso and New Stars)

Ernest Nuamah (Ghana & Olympique Lyonnais)

Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Morocco and Betis)

Bilal El Khannous (Morocco and Genk)

Gift Orban (Nigeria and KAA Gent)

Lamine Camara (Senegal and Generation Foot/Metz)

Pape Amadou Diallo (Senegal and Generation Foot/Metz)

Pape Demba Diop (Senegal and Zulte Waregem)

Amara Diouf (Senegal and Generation Foot)

The 19-year-old scored his first goal for goal for the French Ligue giants following his move from Danish side, FC Nordsjaelland during the summer transfer.

Eli Junior Kroupi broke the deadlock for the away side in the 16th minute.

However, five minutes later, Nuamah levelled his side up with a powerful shot.

Former Arsenal striker, Alexander Lacazette scored a brace in the 22nd and the 41st minute to end the first half 3-1 in favour of the home side.

After recess, Eli Junior Kroupi scored again in the 54th minute before Darlin Yongwa scored in the 79th minute to end the game 3-3 at the Groupama Stadium.

Olympique Lyon have been poor in the ongoing season and after 8 games played, Lyon are with just three points and sit 17th on the league log. 

Nuamah and his side will hope to improve their performance when they host Clermont Foot in their next game fixture.

Kudus and Nuamah were both on the score sheet for the senior national team against Central African Republic (CAR) in the final Group E game of the AFCON qualifiers and Liberia.

Polo, who won the 1978 AFCON title with the Black Stars described the two footballers as generational talents, adding that he believes Ghana would benefit immensely from their contributions to the senior national team.

“The telepathy between these two players could propel Ghana to AFCON success in Cote D Ivoire and would have a massive impact on our bid to qualify for the next World Cup,” the former Hearts of Oak coach told GNA Sports.

“It is very rare for Ghana to have these kinds of players in one team at a time, but we are blessed to have this duo who are not just creators but scorers,” he said.

Polo also asserted that, the recent moves by these players in the respective European clubs would aid in their development and would become massive for Ghana’s football progress, especially at the senior level.

“I am happy with their progress, and I urge you to annul all the negativity that they might face while playing football, especially on social media,” he added.

Mohammed Polo stated that, there are more of these talents in Ghana and that more has to be done to unearth them, especially by supporting experienced footballers to build more academies.

Ghana have secured a place in the AFCON tournament that is scheduled to be hosted in Ivory Coast next year.

Chris Hughton and his charges will be hoping to win the trophy to end the country’s 41-year AFCON trophy drought.

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The duo played in Ghana’s game against Central African Republic in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers last week and the international friendly game against Liberia.

In the Liberia game at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, Nuamah scored the opening goal and assisted Kudus to net Ghana’s second.

Speaking after the game, the Lyon winger was thrilled to have the opportunity to play with Mohammed Kudus and other senior players.

“It feels good; once I was watching him [Kudus] on the TV and now, I’m on the pitch with him,”Nuamah said when asked about playing alongside Kudus.

On his relationship with the other senior players, he said “they are the players we look up to. It is also a motivation for us to be on the same pitch with them. This keeps me going” he added.

Ernest Nuamah made his Black Stars debut in the AFCON qualifier against Madagascar in July and now has two goals and in three games for Ghana’s senior national team.

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The 19-year-old joins the side from Danish side FC Nordsjaelland and has been handed the jersey number 37.

He joins the club on an initial loan deal from Belgian side RWD Molenbeek with the deal expected to be made permanent at the end of the 2023/24 season.

Nuamah becomes the fourth Ghanaian to play for the French side after Abedi Pele, John Mensah and Michael Essien.

Nuamah was awaiting official confirmation from the club having completed his medical and all other paperwork details last week.

Lyon said in a statement published on the club’s website: “Olympique Lyonnais is delighted with the signing of Ernest Nuamah, considered one of the future great hopes in his position, who will be the second Ghanaian footballer in the history of the club after Michaël Essien, his assistant coach at Nordsjaelland, between 2003 and 2005.”

Ahead of his move to Lyon, the forward has been in stunning form for FC Nordsjaelland this season, scoring five goals and providing one assist in six games for the Tigers.

Nordsjaelland confirmed the departure of the Black Stars winger with a farewell video earlier before the official unveiling video from Lyon.

The Right to Dream Academy graduate only enjoyed his first full season in Europe during the 2022/23 season with Nordsjaelland where he was close to guiding them to the league title.

Nuamah debuted for the Black Stars during the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar back in June.

He was also part of the Black Meteors squad at the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The 19-year-old is joining the side from Danish side, FC Nordsjaelland in a deal worth €25 million with an additional €5 million in add-ons.

Nuamah has completed his mandatory medical on Tuesday morning and will sign a five-year deal with the former Ligue 1 champions.

This milestone echoes the path paved by Ghanaian football legend Michael Essien, who also began his European journey with Lyon before his celebrated move to Chelsea.

Nuamah’s arrival at the French side comes on the back of a scintillating goal-scoring spree in the current season, where he has already netted five goals.

His remarkable performance builds upon his impressive tally of 12 goals and four assists from the preceding season, a testament to his burgeoning talent and potential.

The journey to Lyon began for Nuamah in 2022 when he made the transition from the Right to Dream Academy to Nordsjaelland on a four-year deal.

His performance earned him a place in the senior national team of Ghana, the Black Stars in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Madagascar in June.

Additionally, he showcased his prowess while representing the U-23 side in the recent Africa Cup of Nations tournament held in Morocco.

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The youngster has been the centre of discussion following his exploits for club and country.

According to French media outfit, L’equipe, the Ligue 1 champions have already had a first offer turned down by Nordsjaelland.

The 19-year-old is under contract with the Danish side until June 2026.

Nuamah scored eight goals and provided four assists in just 21 league appearances for Nordsjaelland, bringing his total goal contributions to 19 in all competitions.

As a result of his impressive display on the field, the Ghanaian teenager received three individual awards: the renowned Danish Superliga Player of the Year by the league’s judges, the Spring Best Player by the Superliga head coaches, and the Player of the Year by the Superliga players.

He has also been chosen as one of the 100 finalists for the 2023 Golden Boy Award.

Nuamah has also been instrumental in representing his country on the international stage. He played an important role for the Black Meteors, helping them qualify for the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Nuamah’s two key assists in the final round of qualifiers sealed Ghana’s berth in the tournament.

He was recently called up to the Black Stars, where he made his debut against Madagascar in the 2023 AFCON.

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Nuamah earned a call-up to the senior national team, the Black Stars and was a substitute in the goalless draw against Madagascar in the 2023 AFCON qualifying match played on June 18, 2023.

The enterprising winger has arrived in the camp as the team prepares for their opening match of the 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations against Congo on Sunday, June 25, 2023.

Nuamah was a player as the team secured qualification against Algeria in the final round of games.

His presence in camp will boost the team’s morale as they prepare for the opening game on Sunday.

The Black Meteors are poised to sail through the Group stage and make an appearance in the semis for one of the three slots at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The last time Ghana participated in the Olympic Games Men’s Soccer event was in 2004 in Athens.

Ghana will take on Morocco in their second Group A game on Tuesday before wrapping up their group games against Guinea.

12 coaches in the Super Liga unanimously voted for the young winger following his impressive performance with FC Nordsjaelland.

The 19-year-old has scored 15 goals for Nordsjaelland in all competitions this season, in addition to providing four assists.

Nuamah recently earned his debut Black Stars call-up following his incredible performance with the Black Meteors.

The exciting winger has progressed from being the sixth-best player in the league during Autumn to securing the top spot on the list with only a few games remaining in this remarkable campaign.

Andreas Schjelderup, who claimed the best player title in Autumn, delivered the award to the talented winger through a video message due to his current commitments with his new club, Bodo, in Norway.

Speaking from his Norwegian base, Schjelderup said, “Hi guys, it’s been a pleasure following all of you over the past month. I miss you all so much, and I just wanted to drop by and congratulate Ernest ‘Nana Messi’ Nuamah on winning the Player of the Spring award, voted for by all the managers. You’ve taken on some significant responsibilities with penalties, and you’ve executed them very well. I thoroughly enjoy watching you play.”

Expressing his gratitude, Nuamah acknowledged his teammates and coaches for their invaluable support in helping him excel at the club.

“First of all, I want to thank everybody—my teammates and coaches—for this incredible season. We’ve come together as a team, and it wasn’t just me. I’m proud of the team and what we’ve accomplished this season,” he said.

Nuamah is expected to make the Black Meteors squad for the CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled to be hosted in Morocco next year.

Ghana’s U-23 side booked a place in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] following a win over Algeria.

The FC Nordjaelland attacker put in a splendid performance to help the Black Meteors secure qualification for the tournament that will be hosted in Morocco in June.

Nuamah provided an assist as Abdul Fatawu Issahaku scored the winning goal in the final round of qualifiers against Algeria, resulting in a 2-1 aggregate victory for the Black Meteors.

With his impressive performance, Nuamah has caught the eye of Abedi Pele, who has high hopes for the young player’s future.

Ghana’s all-time leading goal scorer, Asamoah Gyan has also tipped the 19-year-old for greatness following his impressive performance at the Baba Yara Stadium.

The U-23 AFCON will also be used as a qualifier for the 2024 Summer Olympics men’s football tournament in Paris, France.