This evening, the players of OGC Nice handball had an appointment with the start of their season in the Butagaz Energie league. To do so, the Aiglonnes traveled to Le Havre.
We last saw the Aiglonnes on June 8 after a defeat in Metz. The Niçoises finished in 6th place in the championship after having long hoped to secure one of the top four European places. Putting the disappointment aside, it was necessary to move forward. With four departures (Gordana Mitrovic, Raissa Dapina, Adriana Holejova, and Nicole Wiggins), for four arrivals (Cecilia Errin, Hanna Ahlen, Emma Rouly, Julie Pontopiddan), OGC Nice did not make any extravagant moves in the transfer market. Although the club lost four important players from its squad, the staff focused on recruiting on a like-for-like basis.
The objective of the season will therefore be to perform at least as well as in the previous year. After a good preparation phase, the reds and blacks made their comeback last week at home against Toulon as part of the French Cup. In group C, the players of Sébastien Mizoule are seen as favorites to advance from the pool. They demonstrated this by winning decisively in the first match (35-31). This set them up nicely for the start of the championship this evening against the promoted team, Le Havre.
OGC Nice continues their momentum
It was therefore with full confidence that the Niçoises arrived in Normandy with the firm intention of achieving a result. Very quickly, the mainstays of last season stood out. The captain Marine Dupuis was the first to make her mark with a seven-meter throw. She was followed by the second top scorer for Nice last season, Marie-Hélène Sajka. In great form, the French back scored seven goals in the championship opener, helping her teammates take the lead after a quarter-hour of play. Another standout player at the beginning of the match, Margot Le Blevec actively contributed to the Maralpines’ strong performance with five goals. Despite a slight relaxation in the final minutes of the first half, the Niçoises led at halftime (12-15).
The second half resumed as the first had ended. Struggling, the Niçoises conceded another 3-0 run. However, this was not enough to shake Marie Fall. The azure pivot got her teammates back on track and restored the lead for OGC Nice handball. With six goals, she significantly contributed to the Aiglonnes’ strong second half. Solid in defense, coach Sébastien Mizoule’s players only conceded ten goals in the second half. This was an important detail due to the trust placed in last season’s key players, who quickly regained their rhythm.
In the end, OGC Nice handball won without difficulty in this first day of the championship (22-28) and took the 4th place in the Ligue Butagaz Energie. The next meeting for the Niçoises is next Friday at home. The partners of Marine Dupuis will welcome Plan-de-Cuques at 8 PM. A team that has often posed problems for the Niçoises in the past.
