Ahmed Kantari’s Nantes future tied to survival and swift improvement | OneFootball

Ahmed Kantari’s Nantes future will hinge on Ligue 1 survival and a swift upturn before spring. He has only one league win in five since taking charge.

According to L'Équipe, he took over on 11 December from Luis Castro after 15 matchdays, tasked until season’s end with safeguarding a 14th straight top-flight season. Nantes were 17th, four points off safety, and are now in the play-off place, six behind 15th.

His tenure includes a 2-0 win at Marseille in January with a man advantage, set against four league defeats. In the Coupe de France, Nantes won 5-3 at Concarneau (National), then went out to Nice on penalties after 1-1, 3-5.

A nine-match drought at La Beaujoire endures. The winter window brought seven signings, eight with Ignatius Ganago’s loan return, including late arrivals Guilbert, Kaba and Sylla, but no extra striker, leaving a 28-man squad.

January meant integrating recruits amid mixed fitness, Afcon returns for Awaziem and Mohamed, and injuries to Machado and Centonze. A livelier second half in the 1-2 loss at Lorient last Saturday hinted at a response that needs confirming.

Miss the objective and his stint ends. If Nantes stay up he could continue, with no automatic one or two-year option, though talks would likely follow. Recovery is the priority, with trips to direct rivals Metz on the fifth and Auxerre on the 12th of April. Results are needed before then or pressure will rise.

Source: L'Équipe