Lille’s Nathan Ngoy Shines in Week of Europa League and Ligue 1 Success

Lille defender Nathan Ngoy has emerged as a key player for the club, delivering crucial goals in both the Europa League and Ligue 1 within the span of a week. The 22-year-traditional Belgian international scored against Nantes on Sunday, March 1, 2026, securing a 1-0 victory for Lille and bringing them level on points with Olympique de Marseille (OM) in the Ligue 1 standings.

Europa League Heroics

Ngoy’s impactful week began on Thursday, February 23, 2026, with a winning goal in extra time against Etoile Rouge in the Europa League. He scored shortly after entering the match at Marakana stadium.

Winning Goal Against Nantes

Against Nantes, Ngoy scored in added time. Following a corner, the ball fell to Thomas Meunier, who passed to Ngoy. Ngoy controlled the ball with his left foot and quickly scored with his right, sending the Pierre-Mauroy stadium into celebration.

First Ligue 1 Goal and Rising Confidence

This goal marked Ngoy’s first in Ligue 1. He has played in 28 matches across all competitions this season, demonstrating the trust placed in him by the Lille coaching staff. Ngoy acknowledged the importance of the win against Nantes, stating, “We’re happy, it was significant to win and end the week in a good way. It could be a pivotal week, we are happy, we had difficult times but we knew things were going to turn around. We have to stay focused, it’s not over.”

International Recognition

Ngoy has also been recognized internationally, appearing on the Belgium squad list for World Cup Qualifier games against Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein in November 2025. [Source: Facebook] He currently plays alongside other Belgian players such as Thomas Meunier.

Lille’s League Position

The victory over Nantes allowed Lille to draw level on points with OM, who were playing the Olympico against Olympique Lyonnais (OL) on the same day.