Busy opening weekend for Ligue 1’s Africans

Nigeria's skipper Vincent Enyeama

The 2015/16 Ligue 1 kicks off with a full set of fixtures this weekend, and African players are set to be at the centre of the action in France’s top flight.

Champions Paris Saint-Germain, who have just one African in the first team squad (Ivory Coast right-back Serge Aurier), will start the defence of their title away to Vincent Enyeama’s Lille on Friday night.

Six games are scheduled for Saturday night, the pick of which sees Mahamane Traore’s Nice host Aymen Abdennour’s Monaco, while Nicolas N’Koulou should feature for Olympique Marseille when they host Caen.

On Sunday, Saint-Etienne will have their first taste of life without Max Gradel (who has been signed by Bournemouth in the Premier League) when they travel to Toulouse, while Olympique Lyon will hope Clinton N’Jie picks up where he left off last season when they host Alain Traore’s Lorient.

Weekend French Ligue 1 fixtures

Times CAT

Friday, 7 August

Lille v Paris Saint-Germain, 20h30

Saturday, 8 August

Nantes v Guingamp, 21h00

Montpellier v Angers, 21h00

Nice v Monaco, 21h00

Olympique Marseille v Caen, 21h00

Bastia v Rennes, 21h00

Troyes v Gazelec Ajaccio, 21h00


Sunday, 9 August

Bordeaux v Reims, 17h00

Toulouse v Saint-Etienne, 17h00

Olympique Lyon v Lorient, 21h00