OGC Nice delivered a strong performance to hold Strasbourg to a draw on Saturday night at the Allianz Riviera (1–1). Making his first appearance in a Nice shirt, Elye Wahi enabled Les Aiglons to pull level after falling behind.

They probably deserved more than a point, but Les Aiglons will be satisfied with this draw against Racing on Matchday 17 of Ligue 1. First, because it put an end to a negative run of six consecutive league defeats, after they had already stopped the bleeding by beating Saint-Étienne in the Coupe de France before the winter break. Second, because the quality of play and the attitude shown, despite a long list of absentees, will certainly give Claude Puel a foundation to build on for the rest of the season. Third, because Elye Wahi, who arrived on the Côte d’Azur less than 72 hours earlier, already made his mark by finding the back of the net less than ten minutes after coming on.

LE GYM SUPERIOR

The match had started badly for Les Aiglons, lined up in a 4-3-3 with 18-year-old Everton Pereira (son of club legend Everson) anchoring the midfield trio. Lively and intelligent, he showed promise in his first professional minutes. Despite a good start, the Rouge et Noir were punished by a Strasbourg move initiated by Diego Moreira and a foul committed by Kojo Peprah Oppong on Abdoul Ouattara in the penalty area, resulting in a spot kick. Ligue 1’s second-top scorer, Joaquin Panichelli, made no mistake, sending Maxime Dupé the wrong way to give Racing the lead (0–1, 13’).

Rather than dropping their heads, Morgan Sanson, named captain by coach Puel, and his teammates responded. Driven by a fierce desire to bounce back in 2026 after a difficult end to the year, the hosts dominated the duels and the physical battle, winning numerous balls high up the pitch. They were repeatedly denied by Mike Penders, however, who brilliantly tipped away Tiago Gouveia’s curling effort from the edge of the box (16’). It was the first of a long series of saves by the Alsatian goalkeeper, who was also aided by his post moments later after a back-heeled deflection from Gouveia was turned onto the upright by Sofiane Diop (24’). Already alert to push away Mohamed-Ali Cho’s cutback (19’), Penders was more fortunate when Sanson, after winning the ball high off Valentin Barco, saw his audacious chip drift just wide of an open goal (34’).

WAHI’S DREAM DEBUT

Committed in their attitude and coherent in their style, Le Gym stepped up another level after the break, becoming even more dangerous. This rise in intensity was embodied by one man: Elye Wahi, introduced by Claude Puel at the start of the second half. Strong with his back to goal, powerful in behind and aggressive in the press, the winter signing enjoyed a thunderous debut. Just eight minutes after taking his first steps on the pitch, the 23-year-old striker showed all his class by equalising after he cut inside and buried a right-footed strike into the far corner (1–1, 54’). A perfect start to his Nice adventure for a player who had not scored at all during the 2025 calendar year in the Bundesliga.

Wahi continued his relentless work throughout the second half. He could have grabbed a brace just four minutes after his goal had Penders not reacted quickly to deny him from close range, after the Strasbourg keeper had already won a one-on-one against Sanson (58’). Nice's new man then went close with a header, meeting an excellent cross from Melvin Bard but sending his powerful effort just wide (72’). In between, Diop again tested Penders with a curling shot (59’), while Ndombele’s attempt was blocked by an Alsatian defender (70’).

Despite a late response from the visitors, highlighted by a low angled shot from Barco cleared off the line by Bard (76’), Le Gym maintained their dominance, finishing the match in an ambitious 4-4-2. Mohamed-Ali Cho and Bernard Nguene operated on the flanks, while Elye Wahi and Zoumana Diallo led the line. The final chance of the game also fell to Nice, but Nguene was just short of connecting with Diop’s perfectly weighted cross at the far post (90+4’).

Not fully rewarded for their dominance, OGC Nice nevertheless begin the year with a valuable point against a team expected to challenge for European places. Provisionally 13th with 18 points, Les Aiglons will travel to Nantes next weekend for the Coupe de France Round of 32.