Terem Moffi’s penalty wasn’t enough to save OGC Nice from defeat on the opening night of this season’s UEFA Europa League, as the French side suffered a 2-1 loss to AS Roma.
The breakthrough came early in the second half when Ivorian centre-back Evan N’Dicka headed Roma into the lead in the 52nd minute.
Just three minutes later, Gianluca Mancini doubled the advantage, capitalizing on a moment of disorganization in the Nice defence.
Nice were given a lifeline in the 77th minute when the referee awarded a penalty. Moffi, calm under pressure, stepped up and coolly sent Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar the wrong way to halve the deficit.
However, the Nigerian’s goal was not a true reflection of his overall performance on the night.
Introduced in the 63rd minute, Moffi struggled to leave a significant mark on the game.
With just 12 touches, two completed passes, and two attempts at goal, his link-up play lacked fluency, and he was dispossessed twice.
Following the match, manager Franck Haise reflected on the performance and the result:
“You have to be consistent in performances. Over the last three matches, that hasn’t been the case.
“Regarding new recruits, I’m not going to analyze them today. Yes, I expect more from them. But like from others. El Aynaoui was my priority but he costs 25 million.
“We can regret those five minutes in the second half. I would have preferred to face the last fifteen minutes without being two goals down.
Also read: Terem Moffi Out With Long term Injury
“I am the guarantor of the mindset, of the demand, and if all that is not followed, it’s up to me to make choices.”
“The players who played were performing well and I’m rather satisfied overall with what we showed, even if we weren’t yet at the level of this Roma team – even if, in one match, we weren’t far off. Roma is a very strong team. Not having conceded too many chances against them is already a good point.”
The defeat marks Nice’s third loss in their last four matches across all competitions, raising early questions about consistency and squad cohesion as the season begins to pick up pace.
