Here is the translation of the provided French text:
OGC Nice Handball had a meeting for a final match of the year 2025. In the French Cup, the Aiglonnes hosted Le Pouzin in the context of the 3rd day of this competition.
The end of the year has already come for OGC Nice Handball. While several players from Sébastien Mizoule’s squad are expected to depart for international duty to compete in the World Cup in Germany at the end of the month, for others, it is already vacation time. But before enjoying this break to recharge their batteries, the Aiglonnes had one last mission. Ensure qualification for the main round of the French Cup. With two victories in as many days, there was no need to worry for the Azuréennes. They were up against the Ardèche team PHB, a second-division team to be taken seriously.
OGC Nice Handball did not take long to gain control of the match. By the 3rd minute, Marine Dupuis, who was already in great shape on Wednesday against Strasbourg despite the defeat, opened the score and set the tone for a well-controlled first half. The Aiglonnes executed clean sequences, relied on a compact defense, and capitalized on recovered balls to quickly project forward, leading by +4 after just ten short minutes of play.
Dienaba Sy (5 goals) and Marie-Hélène Sajka (6 goals) actively participated in widening the gap. At halftime, the Niçoises led 16-12. This advantage was built thanks to a fluid attack and good management of weak moments despite a severely depleted roster with only 12 players on the match sheet.
OGC Nice seals the deal
The second half confirmed this momentum. The Maralpines started strong again, relied on a solid backline, and continued to exploit the spaces in Le Pouzin’s defense. Marine Dupuis, unstoppable, multiplied her initiatives and finished as the match’s top scorer with 10 goals, half of which came from 7-meter throws. Margot Le Blévec (four goals) and Emma Rouly (two goals) also contributed.
Overwhelmed in the duels, the visitors held on for a while, but Nice did not relent the pressure, repelling every comeback attempt. The final minutes even allowed for widening the gap thanks to careful management and a well-organized team effort.
Serious from start to finish, the Niçoises dominated Le Pouzin (32-23) to secure a well-deserved victory in the French Cup and are top of their group with nine points. With this success, the Azuréennes can go on vacation with peace of mind before returning at the beginning of the year, on January 4th to face Toulon.
