Handball: OGC Nice finds momentum and wins against Besançon

OGC Nice Handball delivered a solid home performance by defeating Besançon (30–26) in a match that remained undecided for a long time but was controlled in the final stages. Trailing by one goal at halftime 15–16, the Nice players gradually took the upper hand thanks to more fluid attacking play and stricter management of weak periods. A victory that gives them new momentum with two match days remaining in the season.

OGC Nice handball is back on track. A week after their success in Alsace (18-22), Sébastien Mizoule’s players welcomed Besançon. A team that, unlike the Azureans, has been losing momentum in May with two consecutive defeats. So it was as favorites and with full determination that the Nice players approached this match.

Perfectly launching the match with a first goal from Dienaba Sy after just over a minute of play, the team quickly took the lead, driven by Ehsan Abdelmalek’s offensive activity, already decisive in the opening minutes. The score climbed to 4-1 after five minutes, confirming a strong start by the Eagles, always led by their leader.

Besançon then took advantage of several less controlled sequences to gradually get back into the match. Successive goals from Mumbongo and Bellonnet balanced the score. Nice conceded the equalizer at 8-8 before finding themselves trailing 12-14. A final goal from the inevitable Ehsan Abdelmalek late in the period allowed them to limit the gap, but the Nice players returned to the locker room with a one-goal deficit, 15-16.

Gradual build-up and controlled finish

After halftime, everything remained to be done. OGC Nice drew level thanks to Louna Benezeth before regaining the lead with a goal from captain Marine Dupuis, very active in this match. Her always surgical precision on seven-meter throws proved decisive in the match’s outcome. Besançon remained in contact until the final ten minutes of the match, but the Eagles then imposed a superior pace.

Marie-Hélène Sajka, who is gradually returning to form, found solutions down the middle, Margot Le Blévec added an important goal approaching the final quarter of an hour, and Ehsan Abdelmalek with all her determination extended the lead near the end. The thirtieth goal came from a final seven-meter throw obviously converted by Marine Dupuis with one minute remaining. Nice thus confirmed a solid collective performance, built over time and better controlled as the minutes passed. Final score: 30-26.

The Eagles’ statistics

Ehsan Abdelmalek scored seven goals and set the rhythm for Nice’s attack throughout the match. Marine Dupuis also scored seven times, including five goals from seven-meter throws, confirming her essential role in key moments. Louna Benezeth added four goals and was influential in transition phases. Marie-Hélène Sajka also scored four times and helped stabilize offensive play during strong periods. Wendy Semedo Monteiro, Julie Pontoppidan, Margot Le Blévec and Dienaba Sy each contributed important goals that allowed Nice to maintain a constant pace until the end of the match.

At the end of this latest Ligue Butagaz Energie match day, OGC Nice handball comes within two small points of fourth place held by Saint-Amand. A team that the Azureans will face in the final championship match at the end of the month. Before that, the Nice players must pull off an upset against Brest at home on Wednesday May 27th, at 8 p.m. for their final home match of the season. Kick-off at 8 p.m.