“We are very happy to welcome them…”, these are the words of Maurice Cohen to announce the official signing of the two new recruits of the eaglets: Chaouki Ben-Saada and Kafoumba Coulibaly. The first signed a contract for a duration of three years and the second for four with OGC Nice. The operation cost the club 1.5 million euros. Even though these two players are coming from the club on the Isle of Beauty, they have each experienced two diametrically opposed career perspectives.
Chaouki Ben-Saada is a pure product of Corsican training. He has only known one club, SC Bastia. One of his coaches at the young level was, already, Frédéric Antonetti. The Tunisian international (25 caps) was not unaffected by reuniting with the one who trained and launched him in Ligue 1.
“My objective is to progress, take a step forward, but above all, to play as much as possible…”. The technical staff of OGCN has a lot of confidence in this young player (23 years old): “In terms of his technique, he still has room for progress. He will need to prioritize his physical condition…”. Statement by Roger Ricort. The player defines himself as “a lively and technical player who likes to evolve behind the main striker.” His ambition is to prove to himself and others that he has the level to play in the French elite, and with natural shyness, he expresses: “I have everything to prove. Leaving the cocoon of Bastia will do me good even if it’s not very far!” Chaouki Ben-Saada especially found himself bored in Ligue 2. At OGC Nice, it’s another challenge for him, his close ones, and the Bastiais supporters.
If Ben-Saada experienced a very classic path, Kafoumba Coulibaly’s journey is more atypical. Kafoumba Coulibaly, nicknamed “Kafou”, is one of the disciples of Jean-Marc Guillou, having emerged from his football academy named after the French technician. The new Ivorian international, after stints at the Belgian club Beveren, then two years in Thailand and at Bastia, now settles in Nice. The departure of Florent Balmont for Lille is not unrelated to his arrival. 
“He has a very large volume of play in his role as a defensive midfielder. We spotted him during a French Cup match between Nantes and Bastia,” admits Roger Ricort. Gym’s recruitment unit supervised him for ten matches. Frédéric Antonetti watched him play at the Toulon Festival. Kafou impressed them. He became one of the priorities of the eaglets. Emerse Faé, during his introduction discussion with president Maurice Cohen, amused himself by describing him: “He never stops running in selection, even when everyone else is exhausted”. Very convincing in his national team, Coulibaly will head to Beijing with the Ivorian selection.
A little anecdote: the two players were thoroughly soaked by the stadium’s automatic sprinkler system, what a beautiful way to celebrate their arrival on the French Riviera.
