Moussa Sissoko

Sissoko replaced Albin Ebondo in the 83rd minute and received a yellow card in the final minute.

Toulouse lost the first leg 1–0 and the tie 5–0 on aggregate.

Moussa Sissoko (born 16 August 1989) is a French professional footballer who plays as midfielder for club Nantes.

He plays as a box-to-box midfielder in the centre of the pitch, and is capable of playing in either a holding midfield role, or even as an attacking midfielder, right winger or right-back.

Sissoko began his football career playing for local youth clubs in the Île-de-France region, such as Espérance Aulnay and AS Red Star 93.

In July 1999, Sissoko moved to Saint-Ouen to join AS Red Star 93.

Sissoko spent two years at the club and was teammates with former France youth international Yannis Salibur.

In September 2001, he returned to Aulnay for a further two years developing before seeking a move to a professional club.

In 2002, he moved south to join professional club Toulouse.

In July 2003, Sissoko made the trek down south to the Haute-Garonne department to sign with professional club Toulouse FC.

He signed an aspirant (youth) contract and was placed in the club's under-14 team.

Sissoko spent three years developing in the club's youth academy alongside future teammates Cheikh M'Bengue and Étienne Capoue before earning a call up to the club's reserve team in the Championnat de France amateur, the fourth level of French football, ahead of the 2006–07 season.

Sissoko appeared in 18 matches during the amateur season, quickly becoming one of the club's most sought after prospects.

Prior to signing his professional contract with Toulouse, he garnered interest from English clubs Liverpool and Bolton Wanderers.

Midway through the 2006–07 season, Sissoko signed his first professional contract agreeing to a three-year deal with Toulouse until June 2010.

He was subsequently promoted to the club's senior team in the ensuing summer and assigned the number 22 shirt by manager Elie Baup.

Sissoko spent four years in the club's youth academy and made his professional debut in the 2007–08 season, as well as making his UEFA Champions League debut.

In the following season, Sissoko earned award nominations for his performances and also helped Toulouse qualify for the newly created UEFA Europa League.

Sissoko made his professional debut on 4 August 2007, appearing as a substitute in a 3–1 defeat to Valenciennes.

He made his first professional start the following week in the club's 1–0 upset victory over the defending champions Lyon.

On 15 August, he appeared in the club's UEFA Champions League third qualifying round first leg match against Liverpool.

Sissoko scored his first professional goal on 1 September 2007 in a 2–0 victory over Auxerre, scoring in injury time after coming on as a substitute two minutes previously.

In late September, he began featuring in the team as a regular starter playing in the defensive midfielder role alongside attackers Achille Emana and Fodé Mansaré, and captain Nicolas Dieuze.

On 6 January 2008, Sissoko scored his second goal of the season against Paris in the Coupe de France.

Toulouse surprisingly lost the match to the semi-professional club 2–1.

Despite the promising individual season from Sissoko, Toulouse finished one place above relegation and Baup was sacked and replaced by Alain Casanova.

In August 2009, he was called up to the senior team for the first time and made his senior international debut in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification against the Faroe Islands.

He made his first international start four days later in a qualifier against Austria.

He eventually joined Newcastle United in the Premier League in 2013, before moving on to Tottenham Hotspur in 2016 following Newcastle's relegation from the top flight.

At Tottenham, Sissoko finished runner-up in the 2016–17 Premier League and started the 2019 UEFA Champions League final.

After departing Tottenham in 2021, he spent a season at Watford before joining Nantes in 2022.

Sissoko was a French youth international and played at all levels he was eligible for.

Sissoko was a member of the France side that lost the UEFA Euro 2016 final.

Sissoko was born in Le Blanc-Mesnil, a Parisian suburb, to Malian parents.

His father is a construction worker and his mother is a housewife.

Sissoko is the eldest of four children, with three younger sisters.

He was attracted to football at a very young age, stating, "I quickly realised that football could lead me to have a better life".

At the age of six, Sissoko joined the youth academy of Espérance Aulnay, based in nearby Aulnay-sous-Bois, a suburb in northeastern Paris.

He trained three times a week at the club under the supervision of trainer Adama Dieye, who now serves as a correspondent for the club's futsal team.

Sissoko describes Dieye as an important mentor in his development stating "I am here today because of him".