The trip to Dijon did not favor the Nice team. On the evening of Tuesday, February 3, at the Palais des Sports, OGC Nice Handball suffered a logical defeat against a very solid JDA Dijon (36-31) during the 14th day of the women’s D1 league.
Aware of the stakes in the race for European spots, they tried to set the pace against a direct competitor. But carried by positive momentum and constant intensity, the Dijon team quickly took control of the game.
Nice fights but struggles defensively
While Nice managed to respond in phases, notably thanks to an offense capable of finding solutions, the team from the Côte d’Azur paid dearly for their defensive difficulties. Too often defeated in duels and late in reacting to the opponent’s counterattacks, they allowed Dijon to gradually widen the gap.
Despite their displayed commitment and fighting spirit, OGC Nice never managed to reverse the trend. JDA, effective and disciplined, maintained its lead until the final whistle, confirming its upward trend over the past few weeks.
A setback that impacts the standings
Beyond the score, this defeat has consequences for the standings. Nice sees Dijon move ahead and falls back in the hierarchy, in a championship that is increasingly competitive behind the untouchable Brest and Metz. A frustrating setback for Nice, who were defeated after having shown promising performances during the first half of the season.
The season is far from over, but this match is a reminder of the demands at the highest level. To stay in the race for Europe, Nice will need to quickly correct their mistakes and regain consistency, particularly in away games.
Next objective: bounce back in the next game and restart the momentum, with the aim of turning this disappointment into a driving force for the rest of the championship.
The next match is scheduled for Friday, February 13, against Paris 92, to get back to winning ways.
Ambre Yaici
