In a thrilling match held at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin, OGC Nice handball clinched a valuable victory (33-32) against Paris 92 during the 8th day of the Ligue Butagaz Énergie. Led by an exceptional Marie-Hélène Sajka, the Nice team demonstrated a strong collective force, allowing them to leave the capital on the podium of the Ligue Butagaz Energie.
The duel between Paris 92 and OGC handball promised to be a top-of-the-table clash: two ambitious teams with standout individuals. After suffering defeats against Brest and Metz, the Nice team had righted the ship against Stella St Maur ten days prior.
From the opening minutes, the Nice team imposed their pace. The experienced Ehsan Abdelmalek opened the scoring, quickly followed by Marie Fall and Marie-Hélène Sajka, who would become the evening’s standout hero.
With 14 goals scored, Marie-Hélène Sajka further confirmed her status as an attacking leader. Omnipresent, her shooting power, precision on seven-meter throws (five successes), and ability to take responsibility in decisive moments swung the game. At every Parisian highlight, the Nice back player responded, keeping her team ahead on the scoreboard.
The first half was marked by alternating offensive sequences. Paris, led by Barbara Moretto (seven goals) and Maria Berger Wierzba (six goals), found solutions to catch up. But Nice managed to keep their composure, thanks to contributions from Ehsan Abdelmalek (three goals), Marie Fall (four goals), and Margot Le Blévec (three goals). At halftime, the score was perfectly balanced at (15-15), promising an explosive second half.
And explosive it was. Right after the restart, Marie-Hélène Sajka resumed her recital, following with goals to give OGC Nice handball the advantage again. Paris tried to react through Kanouté and Golvet, but the Nice team managed the weaker moments, especially during temporary exclusions. Captain Marine Dupuis, another significant figure for the Azurean team, added six more goals, most from seven-meter throws.
The final moments met expectations: at 58 minutes of play, Paris equalized at 32-32 thanks to Golvet. But once again, Marie-Hélène Sajka emerged to score the decisive goal in the last minute. Despite a final Paris timeout, Yohan Lefort’s players couldn’t find a breakthrough. Nice won (33-32), after an intense battle.
A Foundational Victory for OGC Nice
Beyond the score, this victory is rich in lessons for OGC Nice. It confirms the team’s ability to compete with the best teams in the championship and handle moments of tension. The Nice squad showed impressive cohesion, with strong defense despite some exclusions, and engaged players in attack.
This away victory could be a turning point in the season. It places Nice on the podium, tied in points with Plan-de-Cuques (20 points) and just behind the two favored teams, Metz and Brest. Beyond that, this result establishes a positive dynamic and strengthened confidence ahead of upcoming challenges, notably next Wednesday against Achenheim.
