Martinique will add a seasoned Ligue 1 edge to their Nations League campaign this month, with Brest right-back Kenny Lala and Rennes attacking midfielder Ludovic Blas preparing for their first appearances for the Matinino.
Martinique turn to Lala and Blas
Head coach Fabien Mercadal included both players in the squad announced on Wednesday for a run of Nations League fixtures that will determine Martinique’s route towards the Gold Cup.
- Lala, 34, has played 253 Ligue 1 matches and arrives from Brest.
- Blas, 28, has made 329 top-flight appearances in France and represents Rennes.
- Le Mans central defender Harold Voyer has also received a call-up after featuring three times in the league this season.
The three additions bring substantial French-league experience into a Martinique side seeking a return to the Gold Cup after missing the 2025 edition.
Nations League schedule ahead
Martinique’s upcoming matches are part of the Nations League, the competition that serves as the only qualification pathway to the Gold Cup for teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
- El Salvador: 25 September and 5 October
- Honduras: 2 October
- Suriname: 28 October
Established names already in the Matinino group
Lala and Blas enter a squad that already contains several players familiar to followers of French football, particularly from Ligue 2.
- Goalkeeper Xavier Lenogue, of Boulogne.
- Midfielders Jonathan Mexique of Sochaux and Cyril Mandouki of Laval.
- Forward Janis Antiste, now with Gornik Zabrze after previous spells at Toulouse and Sassuolo.
- Brighton Labeau, the Thoune forward.
- Jonathan Varane, the half-brother of former France defender Raphaël Varane.
SEO Title: Kenny Lala and Ludovic Blas called up by Martinique
SEO Description: Brest defender Kenny Lala and Rennes midfielder Ludovic Blas are set for Martinique debuts in Nations League fixtures against El Salvador, Honduras and Suriname.
