Emiliano Sala: Nantes wear all-black tribute kit in first match since Cardiff City footballer confirmed dead

Nantes paid tribute to former striker Emiliano Sala by wearing an all-black kit bearing his name for their first match since the Cardiff player was confirmed dead.

A body recovered from the wreckage of the Piper Malibu in the English Channel was earlier this week confirmed to be Sala.

Pilot David Ibbotson, the only other person on the aircraft which crashed on its way to Wales on January 21, remains missing.

Black armbands were donned by every Premier League club this weekend to honour Sala, while Cardiff have paid tribute to their club-record signing in their recent matches.

Emiliano Sala: Born in Argentina, forged in France, and tragically taken on his way to Wales

The Welsh side have worn daffodils on their shirts in the striker’s memory, and Neil Warnock, the manager, says his team did Sala justice in their last-gasp 2-1 defeat of Southampton on Saturday.

Nantes have their own tribute to Sala outside their Stade de la Beaujoire home, with shirts and flowers laid in front of a poster bearing their former player’s face.

And, in their first fixture since Sala was confirmed dead, Nantes honoured him further by wearing an all-black kit with the name ‘Sala’ replacing every players’ name.

Cardiff were involved in the tributes with a Bluebirds’ shirt donated to the French club, while supporters created a no.9 mural in the stands.

Nantes were taking on Ligue 1 rivals Nimes on Sunday afternoon hoping to increase the six-point gap between themselves and the relegation places.