Emiliano Sala’s former club Nantes score in 9th minute and fans see it as a sign their old No9 is ‘watching over’ them
French club paid a huge tribute to their ex-striker against Saint Etienne - and were overwhelmed with emotion again with the poignant timing of Coulibaly's opener against Toulouse
NANTES’ fans were overwhelmed with the poignancy of their NINTH minute opening goal against Toulouse – in another emotional tribute to former No9 Emiliano Sala.
The tragic striker’s former club treated Kalifa Colulibaly’s strike in the 2-0 victory over Toulouse as a sign amid the continuing search for Sala’s body — with an emotional tweet.
Above a large image of Sala amid a darkened stadium, Nantes said: “Obviously the score at the ninth minute, obviously.”
One fan responded: “He watches over us.”
Other replies included: “It’s beautiful as a symbol” and “He is always with us”.
A body has been seen in the wreckage of the the Piper Malibu plane on the seabed off Guernsey.
The Air Accident Investigation Branch confirmed the sighting on Monday, nearly two weeks after the plane carrying Cardiff’s record signing and pilot David Ibbotson went missing.
And as rescue teams put together a recovery plan for the 67-metre plane, Nantes kept Sala at the front of their minds.
Tonight’s Ligue 1 match followed an even more emotional evening when Cardiff fans joined Nantes supporters to unveil a huge banner against Saint Etienne.
It read: “We never saw you play and never saw you score. But Emiliano our beautiful Bluebird, we will love you forever.”
Sala’s face also adorned a banner before kick-off, with Nantes boss Vahid Halilhodzic breaking down in tears.
