2020–21 Royal Excel Mouscron season

The 2020–21 Royal Excel Mouscron season was the club's 99th season in existence and its seventh consecutive season in the top flight of Belgian football. In addition to the domestic league, Excel Mouscron participated in this season's edition of the Belgian Cup. The season covered the period from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021.

Royal Excel Mouscron

2020–21 season
Owner	Latimer International Limited
Chairman	Patrick Declerck
Manager	Bernd Hollerbach
Stadium	Stade Le Canonnier
Belgian First Division A	18th (relegated)
Belgian Cup	Sixth round
Home colours Away colours Third colours
← 2019–20 2021–22 →
All statistics correct as of 18 April 2021.

Players

First-team squad

As of 24 August 2020

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 2 DF  CIV Kouadio-Yves Dabila (on loan from Lille) 5 DF  MAR Saad Agouzoul (on loan from Lille) 6 MF  MNE Deni Hočko 7 MF  CMR Fabrice Olinga 8 MF  CMR Jean Onana (on loan from Lille) 9 FW  MDA Virgiliu Postolachi (on loan from Lille) 10 MF  MNE Marko Bakić 11 MF  FRA Dimitri Mohamed (captain) 13 DF  BEL Alessandro Ciranni 14 FW  FRA Imad Faraj (on loan from Lille) 15 MF  ANG Capita (on loan from Lille) 16 GK  BFA Hervé Koffi (on loan from Lille) 18 DF  BEL Robbe Quirynen (on loan from Antwerp) 20 FW  CPV Nuno da Costa (on loan from Nottingham Forest)

No. Pos. Nation Player 21 GK  BEL Nick Gillekens 22 DF  FRA Eric Bocat (on loan from Lille) 23 MF  POR Xadas (on loan from Braga) 26 DF  ARG Matías Silvestre 28 MF  BEL Enes Sağlık 29 FW  BEL Beni Badibanga 30 MF  BEL Benjamin Van Durmen 31 FW  FRA Harlem Gnohéré 33 FW  CAN Charles-Andreas Brym (on loan from Lille) 39 MF  FRA Darly N'Landu (on loan from Lille) 45 MF  ALB Agim Zeka 47 DF  SEN El Hadji Gueye (on loan from Lille) 70 FW  CMR Serge Tabekou 90 GK  SRB Vaso Vasić

Pre-season and friendlies

  Win   Draw   Loss

Excel Mouscron v Royal Dottignies Sport

4 July 2020 Friendly	Excel Mouscron	4–1	Royal Dottignies Sport	Mouscron, Belgium
11:00 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Stade Le Canonnier

Reims v Excel Mouscron

15 July 2020 Friendly	Reims	Cancelled	Excel Mouscron	Le Touquet, France
17:00 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Stade Ferdi Petit

Excel Mouscron v Lille

18 July 2020 Friendly	Excel Mouscron	1–2	Lille	Mouscron, Belgium
17:00 CEST (UTC+2)	Cedric 79'		Xeka 3' (pen.) Simbakoli 76'	Stadium: Stade Le Canonnier

Valenciennes v Excel Mouscron

24 July 2020 Friendly	Valenciennes	0–1	Excel Mouscron	Famars, France
16:00 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Stade Centre Formation VAFC N° 2 Attendance: 0

Excel Mouscron v Union Saint-Gilloise

1 August 2020 Friendly	Excel Mouscron	0–2	Union Saint-Gilloise	Mouscron, Belgium
16:00 CEST (UTC+2)				Stadium: Stade Le Canonnier

Competitions

Overview

Competition	First match	Last match	Starting round	Final position	Record
					Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Belgian First Division A	8 August 2020	18 April 2021	Matchday 1	18th	34	7	10	17	32	54	−22	020.59
Belgian Cup	2 February 2021		Sixth round	Sixth round	1	0	0	1	1	2	−1	000.00
Total					35	7	10	18	33	56	−23	020.00

Source: Soccerway

Belgian First Division A

Main article: 2020–21 Belgian First Division A

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
14	Kortrijk	34	11	6	17	44	57	−13	39
15	Sint-Truiden	34	10	8	16	41	52	−11	38
16	Cercle Brugge	34	11	3	20	40	51	−11	36
17	Waasland-Beveren (R)	34	8	7	19	44	70	−26	31	Qualification for the Relegation play-off
18	Excel Mouscron[a] (R)	34	7	10	17	32	54	−22	31	Relegation to First Division B

Source: Jupiler Pro League (in Dutch), Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Matches won; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored; 5) Away matches won; 6) Away goal difference; 7) Away goals scored; 8) Play-off.^[4]
(R) Relegated
Notes:

1. On 14 April 2021 news was released that both Excel Mouscron and Oostende had not received a Belgian professional football license for the coming season, a requirement to play at the top two levels of Belgian football. For Oostende, a lack of financial transparency, together with generally poor quality and incompleteness of the submitted report, was given as the main reason by the committee for not awarding a license, while Excel Mouscron was refused a license as besides insufficient transparency, the committee also questioned several cash flows and whether the club was creditworthy in general, also due to the fact that the wages for the months of February and March had not yet been paid at that point. For Excel Mouscron, it was already the sixth year running the license was (initially) refused, however, the club has appealed the decision with the Belgian Court for Sports Arbitrage (BAS) successfully on each occasion and intended to do so again. Oostende was planning to launch an appeal as well, with the BAS to rule on the matter for both clubs before the 10th of May. Both clubs were allowed to add new documents to their case, but in case they however still did not receive a license after appeal, knew they would have been forced to relegate to the 2021–22 Belgian Division 2 and start the season with a 3-point penalty.^[1] Both Excel Mouscron and Oostende were however eventually awarded a license after appeal, meaning Oostende remained at the top level, while Excel Mouscron only dropped one level.^[2][3]

Results summary

Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
34	7	10	17	32	54	−22	31	4	5	8	17	22	−5	3	5	9	15	32	−17

Source: Jupiler Pro League

Results by round

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34
Ground	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A
Result	D	L	D	L	L	L	D	L	L	W	W	L	L	D	L	W	D	W	L	L	W	D	W	D	D	L	L	L	D	W	L	D	L	L
Position	10	14	14	18	18	18	17	18	18	18	18	18	18	17	18	17	17	16	17	17	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	17	17	16	17	17	17	18

Source: Jupiler Pro League
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

The league fixtures were announced on 8 July 2020.^[5]

Antwerp v Excel Mouscron

8 August 2020 1	Antwerp	1–1	Excel Mouscron	Antwerp
19:00 CEST (UTC+2)	Refaelov 49' (pen.) Buta  58' De Laet  77'	Report	Onana  48' Bakić 78'	Stadium: Bosuilstadion Attendance: 0 Referee: Nathan Verboomen

Excel Mouscron v KV Mechelen

14 August 2020 2	Excel Mouscron	0–1	KV Mechelen	Mouscron
19:00 CEST (UTC+2)	Antonov  8' Koffi  8' Bakić  48'	Report	Storm 9' (pen.) Van Damme  47' Bushiri  48' Coucke  86'	Stadium: Stade Le Canonnier Attendance: 0 Referee: Christof Dierick

Anderlecht v Excel Mouscron

23 August 2020 3	Anderlecht	1–1	Excel Mouscron	Anderlecht
18:15 CEST (UTC+2)	Žulj  24' Dimata 63' (pen.) Trebel  70'	Report	Bocat  11'  39' Gnohéré 90+3'	Stadium: Constant Vanden Stock Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Wim Smet

Excel Mouscron v Zulte Waregem

29 August 2020 4	Excel Mouscron	0–1	Zulte Waregem	Mouscron
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)	Hočko  33' Ciranni  58'	Report	Deschacht  70' Seck 73'	Stadium: Stade Le Canonnier Attendance: 0 Referee: Jasper Vergoote

Kortrijk v Excel Mouscron

13 September 2020 5	Kortrijk	3–0	Excel Mouscron	Kortrijk
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)	Ocansey  50', 83' Mboyo  52', 59' Dewaele 63'	Report	Onana  32' Hočko  67'  85'	Stadium: Guldensporen Stadion Attendance: 3,725 Referee: Kevin Van Damme

Excel Mouscron v Gent

19 September 2020 6	Excel Mouscron	0–1	Gent	Mouscron
18:30 CEST (UTC+2)	Agouzoul  24' Ciranni  81' Nlandu  85'	Report	Dorsch 14'	Stadium: Stade Le Canonnier Attendance: 900 Referee: Bert Put

Excel Mouscron v Charleroi

27 September 2020 7	Excel Mouscron	1–1	Charleroi	Mouscron
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)	Tabekou 45+2' Ciranni  78' Hočko  89'	Report	Fall 30' Kayembe  68'	Stadium: Stade Le Canonnier Attendance: 1,000 Referee: Bram Van Driessche

Oostende v Excel Mouscron

4 October 2020 8	Oostende	3–0	Excel Mouscron	Ostend
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)	Theate 60' Sakala 81' McGeehan 90+3',  90+4'	Report		Stadium: Versluys Arena Attendance: 2,112 Referee: Kevin Van Damme

Excel Mouscron v Eupen

18 October 2020 9	Excel Mouscron	0–2	Eupen	Mouscron
16:00 CEST (UTC+2)		Report	Musona 47' Heris 79'	Stadium: Stade Le Canonnier Attendance: 500 Referee: Wesli De Cremer

Genk v Excel Mouscron

22 November 2020 13	Genk	4–1	Excel Mouscron	Genk
20:45 CET (UTC+1)	Onuachu  39', 63' Ito 45+2' Bongonda 55', 81'	Report	Bakić  17' Da Costa 34',  79' Ciranni  38' Badibanga  80'	Stadium: Luminus Arena Attendance: 0 Referee: Nicolas Laforge

Cercle Brugge v Excel Mouscron

25 November 2020 10	Cercle Brugge	1–2	Excel Mouscron	Bruges
17:00 CET (UTC+1)	Vitinho  25' Biancone  27' Musaba 64' Lopes  86' Hoggas  90+9'	Report	Bocat  20' Onana  30' Silvestre 81' Gnohéré 87' (pen.)	Stadium: Jan Breydel Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Jan Boterberg

Excel Mouscron v Club Brugge

28 November 2020 14	Excel Mouscron	0–0	Club Brugge	Mouscron
20:45 CET (UTC+1)	Capita  76' Mohamed  82'	Report	Dennis  87' Balanta  87' Mata  90+4'	Stadium: Stade Le Canonnier Attendance: 0 Referee: Wesli De Cremer

Excel Mouscron v Sint-Truiden

1 December 2020 11	Excel Mouscron	3–2	Sint-Truiden	Mouscron
17:00 CET (UTC+1)	Bakić  17', 18' Koffi  34' Da Costa 53' Faraj 81' Xadas  90+5'	Report	Sankhon  17' García  37' Suzuki 63' (pen.) Nakamura 90+1' Janssens  90+2'	Stadium: Stade Le Canonnier Attendance: 0 Referee: Christof Dierick

Waasland-Beveren v Excel Mouscron

5 December 2020 15	Waasland-Beveren	2–0	Excel Mouscron	Beveren
16:15 CET (UTC+1)	Koita 57' Frey  89', 90+2'	Report	Onana  35' Da Costa  67'	Stadium: Freethiel Stadion Attendance: 0 Referee: Lawrence Visser

OH Leuven v Excel Mouscron

8 December 2020 12	OH Leuven	2–0	Excel Mouscron	Leuven
18:30 CET (UTC+1)	Ngawa 56' Henry 84'	Report	Olinga  29' Agouzoul  40' Onana  42' Bakić  77' Brym  87'	Stadium: Den Dreef Attendance: 0 Referee: Wesley Alen

Excel Mouscron v Beerschot

12 December 2020 16	Excel Mouscron	3–1	Beerschot	Mouscron
16:15 CET (UTC+1)				Stadium: Stade Le Canonnier

Excel Mouscron v OH Leuven

15 December 2020 17	Excel Mouscron	2–2	OH Leuven	Mouscron
18:45 CET (UTC+1)	Sowah  30' Vlietinck 42' Hubert 55' (pen.) Vekemans  74'	Report	Ciranni  29' Agouzoul  30' Koffi  54' Olinga  59' Da Costa 71', 77' Tabekou  90+2'	Stadium: Stade Le Canonnier Attendance: 0 Referee: Erik Lambrechts

Standard Liège v Excel Mouscron

20 December 2020 18	Standard Liège	0–1	Excel Mouscron	Liège
18:15 CET (UTC+1)	Jans  9' Bokadi  72' Amallah  77' Carcela  78'	Report	Xadas 30' Hočko  34'	Stadium: Stade Maurice Dufrasne Attendance: 0 Referee: Nicolas Laforge

KV Mechelen v Excel Mouscron

27 December 2020 19	KV Mechelen	2–1	Excel Mouscron	Mechelen
20:45 CET (UTC+1)	Mrabti 38' Shved 83'	Report	Mohamed 69' (pen.)	Stadium: Achter de Kazerne Attendance: 0 Referee: Jasper Vergoote

Zulte Waregem v Excel Mouscron

9 January 2021 20	Zulte Waregem	1–0	Excel Mouscron	Waregem
16:15 CET (UTC+1)		Report		Stadium: Regenboogstadion Attendance: 0 Referee: Jonathan Lardot

Excel Mouscron v Genk

16 January 2021 21	Excel Mouscron	2–0	Genk	Mouscron
18:30 CET (UTC+1)	Olinga 29' Tabekou 71'	Report		Stadium: Stade Le Canonnier Attendance: 0 Referee: Jasper Vergoote

Excel Mouscron v Waasland-Beveren

19 January 2021 22	Excel Mouscron	1–1	Waasland-Beveren	Mouscron
18:45 CET (UTC+1)		Report		Stadium: Stade Le Canonnier Attendance: 0 Referee: Jan Boterberg

Sint-Truiden v Excel Mouscron

23 January 2021 23	Sint-Truiden	0–2	Excel Mouscron	Sint-Truiden
18:30 CET (UTC+1)		Report		Stadium: Stayen Attendance: 0 Referee: Erik Lambrechts

Excel Mouscron v Anderlecht

26 January 2021 24	Excel Mouscron	1–1	Anderlecht	Mouscron
21:00 CET (UTC+1)				Stadium: Stade Le Canonnier Attendance: 0

Eupen v Excel Mouscron

30 January 2021 25	Eupen	1–1	Excel Mouscron	Eupen
18:30 CET (UTC+1)				Stadium: Kehrwegstadion Attendance: 0

Excel Mouscron v Kortrijk

5 February 2021 26	Excel Mouscron	0–3	Kortrijk	Mouscron
20:45 CET (UTC+1)				Stadium: Stade Le Canonnier Attendance: 0

Gent v Excel Mouscron

15 February 2021 27	Gent	4–0	Excel Mouscron	Ghent
20:45 CET (UTC+1)	Yaremchuk 28', 85', 90+1' Tissoudali 70' Owusu  89'	Report	Agouzoul  65'	Stadium: Ghelamco Arena Attendance: 0 Referee: Kevin Van Damme

Excel Mouscron v Cercle Brugge

20 February 2021 28	Excel Mouscron	1–2	Cercle Brugge	Mouscron
18:30 CET (UTC+1)	Mohamed  20' Bakić  28' Tabekou  45+1' Onana  67' Lepoint 90+1'	Report	Ugbo 13' Pavlović  78' Denkey 88' Didillon  90+5'	Stadium: Stade Le Canonnier Attendance: 0 Referee: Jonathan Lardot

Beerschot v Excel Mouscron

28 February 2021 29	Beerschot	2–2	Excel Mouscron	Antwerp
16:00 CET (UTC+1)	Pietermaat  80' Eleke 86' Radić 90+4' Van den Bergh  90+6'	Report	Olinga  23' Onana 26' Da Costa  45+3' Tabekou 71' Koffi  85' Hočko  90+6' Bakić  90+7'	Stadium: Olympisch Stadion Attendance: 0 Referee: Jasper Vergoote

Excel Mouscron v Standard Liège

7 March 2021 30	Excel Mouscron	1–0	Standard Liège	Mouscron
13:30 CET (UTC+1)	Siquet 37' (o.g.) Olinga  73' Bakić  90+1'	Report	Laifis  90+5'	Stadium: Stade Le Canonnier Attendance: 0 Referee: Wesli De Cremer

Excel Mouscron v Oostende

20 March 2021 31	Excel Mouscron	0–1	Oostende	Mouscron
18:30 CET (UTC+1)	Hočko  45+3'	Report	D'Arpino  57' Gueye 90+2'	Stadium: Stade Le Canonnier Attendance: 0 Referee: Bert Put

Charleroi v Excel Mouscron

4 April 2021 32	Charleroi	1–1	Excel Mouscron	Charleroi
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)	Botaka  9' Fall 88'	Report	Quirynen  21' Lepoint  58' Hočko  76' Da Costa 85'	Stadium: Stade du Pays de Charleroi Attendance: 0 Referee: Christof Dierick

Excel Mouscron v Antwerp

12 April 2021 33	Excel Mouscron	2–3	Antwerp	Mouscron
20:45 CEST (UTC+2)	Olinga  38', 49' Da Costa  81' Agouzoul  83' Harbaoui 88'	Report	Mbokani 22', 48' Le Marchand  41' Seck 62' De Wolf  78'	Stadium: Stade Le Canonnier Attendance: 0 Referee: Jan Boterberg

Club Brugge v Excel Mouscron

18 April 2021 34	Club Brugge	4–2	Excel Mouscron	Bruges
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)	Mata  9' De Ketelaere 55' Vanaken 64' Lang 85' Dost 89'	Report	Harbaoui  47', 51' Silvestre 72'	Stadium: Jan Breydel Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Jonathan Lardot

Belgian Cup

Main article: 2020–21 Belgian Cup

Union SG v Excel Mouscron

2 February 2021 Sixth round	Union SG	2–1	Excel Mouscron	Forest
18:00 CET (UTC+1)	Mehlem  64' Vanzeir 79' Teuma  84' Nielsen 90+2'	Report	Bakić 30' Gueye  59' Onana  59'	Stadium: Stade Joseph Marien Attendance: 0

Statistics

Goalscorers

As of 14 August 2020

Rank	No.	Pos	Nat	Name	Pro League	Belgian Cup	Total
1	10	MF		Marko Bakić	1	0	1
Totals					1	0	1