Lamine Kébé Faces Scrutiny After Orléans' Heavy Loss to Blois

Following a crushing defeat against Blois, Orléans coach Lamine Kébé admitted, "I've always been in danger. It's a coach's role. I don't control that; I focus on the team. If decisions are made... I hope not, but I don't control it." He described the game as a "non-performance" and a "lesson in intensity."

Kébé, who joined from the federal center in summer 2024 and extended his contract to 2027 in September 2025, was met with whistles from the home crowd – an "unprecedented" reception since his tenure began, according to ICI Orléans.

The derby, known as the "Centrico," drew a crowd of approximately 9,000 spectators, with ICI Orléans reporting the figure. The fixture had already set an attendance record for the division in January. Blois established a commanding lead early, up 27-14 after the first ten minutes and 41-19 by the 15th minute. Orléans managed to narrow the gap to 40-48 by halftime, but faltered in the third quarter, losing it 16-35, marked by three consecutive three-pointers from David Coit. The deficit stood at 27 points with ten minutes left (56-83).

Arthur Bouba led the charge for Blois with 21 points, 16 rebounds, and a player index rating of 36. Blois secured 47 rebounds compared to Orléans' 31. Summer signings Jonathan Jeanne and Jordan Shepherd struggled offensively, scoring 7 points on 2-of-8 shooting and 6 points on 2-of-11 shooting, respectively.

Orléans' season has started poorly, with earlier home losses to Champagne Basket (84-88) and Antibes (89-85). Their two wins came on the road against Quimper (73-83) and Hyères-Toulon (64-79). The club currently sits in 13th place.

This performance is notable considering the club's investment. OLB boasts the division's highest budget, exceeding 7 million euros, with a payroll of 1.95 million. Blois, meanwhile, operates with the third-largest budget at 4.6 million. In April 2026, Orléans announced that the American group JHZ Holdings, led by Ben Jenkins, Matt Hong, and Jamie Zaninovich, would soon acquire a stake in the club, aiming for a sustained return to the Betclic Élite.

Despite failing to achieve promotion in his first two seasons, Kébé did secure two Leaders Cup Pro B titles, the most recent in February 2026 against Roanne.