This Sunday, OGC Nice hosts AS Saint-Étienne as part of the 32nd finals of the Coupe de France. Facing a Ligue 2 team, the Eagles aim to end a crisis that continues to persist. All the pre-match information for this encounter can be discovered here.
The final outing of OGC Nice wraps up a long and disappointing year, 2025. The Eagles play their final home game, making their entry into the French Cup this Sunday. Like all Ligue 1 clubs, the Gym begins their participation in the competition at the 32nd finals. On paper, Franck Haise’s players are favorites as they host a Ligue 2 team, AS Saint-Étienne (kickoff this Sunday at 2:45 PM). This match will finally provide the opportunity for the Nice team to bounce back and turn the page on an improbable negative spiral. To recall, Tom Louchet’s teammates have lost nine times in their last nine outings, a sad record in the club’s history. The last red-and-black underperformance dates back to last weekend, with a defeat on the field of the championship leader, RC Lens (0-2).
The week in Nice was once again marked by an off-field event. To everyone’s surprise, the Eagles announced the departure of Fabrice Bocquet from his position as president. Another key factor to highlight: the game will be held behind closed doors, without any supporters present. The Allianz Riviera will feel quite empty. OGC Nice is sanctioned by the LFP after multiple uses of pyrotechnic objects in the stands during the derby against Olympique de Marseille. On this occasion, the Populaire Sud—the most loyal red-and-black supporters—celebrated its 40th anniversary. In short, this French Cup match has all the characteristics of a trap game. The Gym is warned!
OGC Nice without its African internationals
For this Coupe de France match, Franck Haise sees his squad reduced compared to recent weeks. Yehvann Diouf, Antoine Mendy (Senegal), Ali Abdi (Tunisia), and Hicham Boudaoui (Algeria) have joined their respective national teams to compete in the Africa Cup of Nations. They will therefore be unavailable for this match. Not included in Morocco’s final list, Sofiane Diop will stay with the Eagles.
An encounter in which Terem Moffi and Jérémie Boga will also not participate. The two attackers from OGC Nice are still on medical leave. Their return to competition is not expected at the moment. Youssouf Ndayishimiye, Mohamed Abdelmonem, Dante, and Moïse Bombito are still sidelined. Finally, Tom Louchet is serving the second of a three-match suspension. Otherwise, the Eagles’ coach should make some changes in his starting eleven, as the Coupe de France demands.
On the other side, ASSE is in 2nd place in Ligue 2, only a few months after their relegation to the second division. The Greens will not represent an “easy” draw for the Gym and come with ambitions to the Côte d’Azur. In the previous round, Erik Horneland’s players easily defeated their opponent, Ecotay Moingt (11-1), a regional division (R3) team. Note that the last match between Nice and Saint-Étienne at the Allianz Riviera turned decisively in favor of the Eagles.
Probable lineups:
Nice: Dupé – Clauss, Bah, Oppong, Bard – Ndombele, Vanhoutte – Cho, Diop, Gouveia – Carlos
Saint-Étienne: Maubleu – Macon, Bernauer, Nade, Old – Jaber, Tardieu, Miladinovic – Cardona, Boakye, Davitashvili
