Abdallah Sima will not return to competition before the end of November after injuring a thigh while on international duty with Senegal. Lens said the forward is expected to miss at least eight matches in all competitions, including the Champions League meeting with Sporting CP on 13 October.
Lens lose an attacking option
The setback lands at a bad time for Lens. Sima has two goals and one assist since the start of the season, and he has been one of the more productive pieces in a side that is already 15th in Ligue 1.
A five-match run of L, D, W, L, L has left little margin for a long absence. Losing a forward who has chipped in with three direct goal contributions removes one of the few players who has given Lens consistent end product this season.
The run he will miss
Lens now have a demanding stretch to manage without him. A minimum of eight matches is a long spell at any point, but the Sporting visit stands out because it arrives early in the run and comes in Europe.
The club confirmed only that Sima will not be back before the end of November, so the focus now shifts to how they cope in the meantime. His injury on Senegal duty leaves Lens with a genuine gap to fill, and the next update will be about who takes his place rather than when he returns.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
