The OGC Nice squad continues to take shape ahead of the upcoming season. The club from the French Riviera has announced the arrival of an international French right-back.
The outlines of the OGC Nice team for the next season are becoming clearer. After allowing the departures of Barbara Moretto and Kimberley Bouchard, the club from the Riviera has announced the addition of young German Aimée von Pereira, a 20-year-old player with great potential at her left-back position. However, the club under president Ange Ferracci has just made another significant move in the transfer market!
Indeed, Marie-Paule Gnabouyou has signed with OGCN for the upcoming season. The 32-year-old player has been with the Toulon Saint-Cyr team for two years. This season, she averages 2.8 goals per match with a success rate of 48%. As a very powerful offensive player but also very aggressive in defense, she is expected to bring her wealth of experience to the young Nice team.
Two pieces of good news for OGC Nice!
Marie-Paule Gnabouyou has 66 caps with the French team (90 goals). Thus, she represents a significant asset for OGCN. The Toulouse native has signed a two-year deal on the French Riviera. She is expected to replace right-back Barbara Moretto, who will be leaving for Nantes at the end of the season.
OGC Nice also received more good news recently with the contract extension of Noémie Lachaud. A pivotal player for Marjan Kolev’s team, she averages 1.5 goals per match with a success rate slightly over 74%. The 28-year-old player (1.73 m, 69 kg) has signed for one more season with Nice, a club she’s been with since 2016.
The OGC Nice Handball transfers for the 2021-2022 season:
Arrivals: Aimée von Pereira (GER, left-back, Copenhagen), Marie-Paule Gnabouyou (right-back, Toulon Saint-Cyr).
Departures: Barbara Moretto (right-back, Nantes), Kimberley Bouchard (right-wing, Chambray).
Contracted players: Ehsan Abdelmalek (center-half, 2022), Dienaba Sy (left-wing, 2022), Martina Skolkova (left-back, 2022), Marija Colic (goalkeeper, 2024), Djazz Chambertin (center-half, 2023), Marie Prouvensier (right-wing, 2022), Noémie Lachaud (pivot, 2022).
Heading to the playoffs!
These announcements come just days before very important matches for the Nice women. First, OGCN will travel to Mérignac on Wednesday, February 24th, to play a Coupe de France quarter-final. A seemingly manageable draw on paper for Ehsan Abdelmalek’s teammates, who are still undefeated in the championship in 2021. However, the team from the French Riviera must remain cautious to reach the semi-finals of this competition.
A few days after this quarter-final, on Saturday, February 27th, the Nice women will face Metz for the start of the playoffs. A very challenging match against a Metz team backed by high-level individuals. Marjan Kolev’s protégés will need to put up a strong performance to win, in what is a rematch of the 2019 French championship final. Especially since Nice will follow up with two difficult away games, in Brest and Chambray…
