Mohamed-Ali Cho double helps Nice overcome Nantes

OGC Nice bolstered their hopes of survival in Ligue 1 McDonald's thanks to a 4-1 win over FC Nantes at the Beaujoire.

Four goals in hectic 45 minutes

Nice and Nantes came into this game 15th and 16th respectively. Separated by just four points, there was no doubt that this was a proverbial six-pointer in the fight for survival in Ligue 1 McDonald's. It was also a game between two clubs who made managerial changes during the month of December. Ahmed Kantari came in to replace Luís Castro at the Beaujoire, whilst Claude Puel replaced Franck Haise at the Allianz Riviera.

Both teams, therefore, are still finding their feet under their respective managers, but it was Nice, fresh off a confidence-boosting win over Go Ahead Eagles in midweek, who raced into an early lead thanks to a brilliant driven finish from Mohamed-Ali Cho, which was beyond Anthony Lopes' reach and nestled in the bottom left-hand corner (16').

2 goals in 30 minutes. Cho is ON FIRE! 🔥💫 pic.twitter.com/hYU3rGgzyV
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) January 25, 2026

And it was Cho again who put Le Gym well and truly in the driving seat. Morgan Sanson swung in the cross and it was Cho who got in front of Nicolas Cozza and volleyed home first time (28'). In just 28 minutes, the former SCO Angers doubled his account in this season's Ligue 1 McDonald's.

Sofiane Diop then got in on the act before half-time. Le Gym had a lot of joy getting in down the sides of the Nantes defence and it was Jonathan Clauss who did just that once again. Tylel Tati tried to clear the France international's cross but instead diverted it straight into the path of Diop to tap into the empty net (40').

But Les Canaris gave themselves hope on the stroke of half-time thanks to Mostafa Mohamed, who got on the end of Chidozie Awaziem's header back across the goal and beat Maxime Dupé, who retained his place in goal (45+2'), despite the return of Yehvann Diouf following AFCON.

Nice with their backs to the wall

Images broadcast on Ligue 1 Plus showed captain Dante telling his Nice teammates to "kill the match" as they went back out onto the pitch for the second half, and Elye Wahi almost did that, but having got in front of Tati, he could only strike into the side-netting of Lopes' goal (48'). The Eintracht Frankfurt then went close again just seconds later, dragging his shot across Lopes' goal on this occasion (50').

But Puel's men, having failed to "kill the game", had to endure a wave of pressure. Mohamed's front-post header looped onto the far post (66'), with the ball then rebounding into the path of Charles Vanhoutte. It would have found the back of the net if not for Dupé's acrobatic intervention. And then Nice were grateful for Clauss, who headed Tati's header off the line (67').

But the pressure abated, and by the end, it was Nice who were conce again applying the pressure. Cho could have put the game to bed and completed his hat-trick in the process but dragged a shot wide when put through one-on-one (84').

But Cho had already done the damage in the first-half, and it was Tom Louchet who put the cherry on top of the cake in extra-time, firing home a deflected effort (90+3').

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