Lens coach Pierre Sage has been dealing with the absence of defender Samson Baidoo since January. Despite an anticipated return in early April, the Austrian player is still missing in action. This situation has left the coach perplexed, especially after Lens’ friendly match against FC Rouen on Saturday.
Lens has been questioning the absence of Baidoo. Since January 24, 2026, Baidoo has only played one game, against Rennes at home on February 7 (3-1). This is due to fickle hamstring muscles. However, the return date of the Austrian defender has continued to change. Initially set for early March, it was pushed back to early April. But on April 11, during Lens’ friendly match against Rouen instead of the postponed match against PSG, Baidoo was nowhere to be seen in Lens’ squad. This has left Pierre Sage frustrated.
After the friendly match against Rouen on Saturday (2-1), the focus was not on Lens’ challenging performance following their recent defeat to Lille (3-0) but rather on Samson Baidoo’s situation. Pierre Sage expressed his frustration, stating, “I find it difficult to consider things regarding him. I don’t even know what to tell you about him, I’m sorry. You are in the same expectation as me. I’m very eager to see him back on the field. He has been training for a long time, but apparently training is not playing. He has no pain,” he explained, sparking discussion in the media about the deciding factor for Baidoo’s presence in matches.
Pierre Sage is facing a crisis in his defensive lineup. The French coach is without Ruben Aguilar, Kylian Antonio, Jonathan Gradit, and Samson Baidoo. This has forced him to play with only three defenders, with Malang Sarr supported by Ismaelo Ganiou and Nidal Celik. This inexperienced defense is hindering Lens in their Ligue 1 title race and allowing PSG to gain crucial points towards the end of the season.
/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.basketusa.com%2Fmain%2F2026%2F04%2FUSATSI_28660231-e1775871825676.jpg "The Wizards will finish with the worst record in the league")
