It was at around 17h00 when the OM bus arrived at Nungesser. Mamadou Niang knows that this wil be his final appearance for OM and his face is serene. Several autographs and last photographs with the supporters and the Senegalese player headed off to check out the pitch with his team-mates. Everything went off as usual, but in his head images are most likely flying by as he spoke with his opponents who know the striker so well.

One hour later and OM started their warm-up. Mamad’ goes through his scales and his extreemely focused, probably overwhelmed with thoughts.



On the pitch the duel is, as was expected, viril. If he gives his all up front, the captain is not having any luck. His first header went over (8^'), his shot blocked (20^') and he was unable to pick up on a cross from Taiwo (26^'). Worse again, he slipped when in a one on one situation with  Penneteau (42^'). The evening was not going as he expected.



On his return from the dressing room, bad luck seemed to have not left the man who had scored one hundred goals with OM. The Serbian Bisevac got in front to stop him (56^'). And while his side is behind (2-0), the coach decided to bring him off (56^'). You had to see him jumping around on the bench while his young team-mates pull back two goals, pushing hard in the final moments but in vain.

Very emotional, he did not have his usual big smile while giving an interview to OMtv (see here). A sad end for a great Olympian, but still not enough to wipe away his numerous exploits of the last five years…