Coquelin and Younoussa evacuated after serious collision

In the opening stages of the Laval versus Nantes fixture on Friday evening, two key players were evacuated by medical staff. Francis Coquelin and Wilitty Younoussa, both midfielders, collided head-on just five minutes into the game at the heart of play.

The impact was severe: both players appeared to have taken blows to the head. Their teammates immediately signalled to referee Antoine Valnet to halt proceedings so that emergency services could intervene swiftly.

Evacuation and growing concern

Both players were stretchered off from the Francis-Le Basser stadium. Although the match managed to resume after the medical intervention, concern remains over the condition of Coquelin and Younoussa, as L'Équipe reports. The Nantes midfielder was returning to Laval eighteen years after his previous stint at the club, what was intended to be his 'final chapter' in the competition.