In a Charles-Ehrmann hall ready for celebration, the protégées of Sébastien Mizoule succumbed to the supremacy of Saint-Amand (23-32). A defeat with serious consequences in which the Azuréennes, overwhelmed by their opponents’ rigor, jeopardize their personal goal average.
The gala atmosphere promised by the union of Football and Handball sections, and the presence of the mayor Christian Estrosi, was meant to serve as a setting for a prideful response. After a bitter defeat in Besançon, the Aiglonnes were obliged to redeem themselves to secure their place on the podium. But facing a Northern team that came with certainties, the evening turned into a tactical nightmare.
The start of the match initially offered a high-level spectacle, marked by an impressive mano a mano between the back courts. While Elisa Techer (scoring three goals in three minutes) immediately imposed her physical power, the Niçoise response was not long in coming. Marie Sajka, whose departure for Vâlcea at the end of the season is confirmed, carried the attack with remarkable technical precision.
However, the balance was fragile. While the score was tight, the Azuréenne defense struggled to contain the repeated assaults of the Louves. The defensive strategy revamped by Sébastien Mizoule showed its limits against the clinical distribution of Jhennifer Lopes, the true metronome of the opposing play.
The disaster after the break
It was after the break that the match definitively shifted into the irrational. OGC Nice handball began the second half with a dreadful air pocket. With offensive clumsiness punctuated by posts and crossbars and additional disciplinary fragility, the ship was rocking. The consecutive temporary exclusions of Marie Fall and Dienaba Sy (for simulation) left the team at a double numerical disadvantage.
The frustrated Nice coach called a dramatic timeout while the scoreboard showed 14-20. His words were harsh: “It’s dramatic, we can’t even move the ball around!” Despite his request to switch to a 1-5 defense to cut off transmissions, the damage was done. The gap unavoidably widened.
A revolt stifled at birth
Amid this chaos, some flashes crossed the Nice sky. Ehsan Abdelmalek attempted to sound the revolt through individual exploits, supported by the dynamic entry of Emma Rouly. In the goal, the experienced Northern goalkeeper, Mayssa Pessoa, stood out with a monumental save on a penalty, using just the tip of her foot without even moving.
The hope of a comeback briefly reignited when the gap reduced, but Edina Borsos, the Saint-Amand technician, quashed this momentum with formidable cynicism. Her timeout in the 49th minute was a coaching masterpiece: she restructured her defense and commanded a “Yago” combination for Sabrina Abdellahi. The execution was immediate, the goal was scored, and the Niçoises surrendered.
The final score was undeniable (23-32). Beyond the defeat, the nine-goal home gap is worrying, offering a decisive advantage to the Northern team in the event of a final tie. Now with their backs against the wall, the team must urgently regroup before a perilous trip to Dijon, a team also fighting for a top position and will not give in easily.
