France: Messali in great form, Touba struggling (video)

Sep 21, 2026

They faced off this weekend in the match Toulouse - Le Havre in French Ligue 1. Here’s a look at the performances of Messali and Touba.

A pleasant surprise at the start of the season, Ahmed Touba quickly established himself as the leader of Le Havre's defense, having somewhat faded into obscurity at Panathinaikos in Greece.

Imposing in a three-man defense alongside Mwanga and Japanese player Seko, the Algerian international delivered a solid first half against Toulouse, helping his team maintain a goalless score at halftime. However, early in the second half, he committed a slight foul in the box that resulted in a penalty, giving the opponent the opening goal.

On the other side, Rafik Messali, who was long sidelined due to injury last season, is regaining his rhythm and stringing together strong performances. Against Le Havre, he showcased great offensive activity, being involved in both of his team's first two goals, as they ultimately won 3-2.

Encouraging prospects for the right-back, who can once again aspire to a national team call-up in the coming months. As for Touba, there is likely a spot to compete for in defense with the Greens, but probably in a three-defender setup rather than a flat back line.

DZfoot