Beyond the fine 3-1 win over Lyon, Le Gym’s final game of the 2022–23 season at the Allianz Riviera also included several tributes. Let’s take a look back at a wonderful evening! 

HUGO IN THE SPOTLIGHT  

It was the pre-match event – an event that made the whole of Nice proud. World Cup winner and club legend Hugo Lloris spent an hour meeting the Rouge et Noir fans at the Musée National du Sport ahead of kick-off. The goalkeeper then received the ‘Aiglon of the Century’ trophy from his three daughters in the middle of the pitch in what was a highly emotional moment.

BENITEZ GIVEN A STANDING OVATION…

Another former OGC Nice goalkeeping great was at the Allianz Riviera on Saturday: Walter Benítez. Having moved to PSV Eindhoven last summer, the Argentine – who was called up by his national team for the first time this month – came back home to Nice to greet the Rouge et Noir family. Pre-game, ‘Super Walter’ was awarded a shirt bearing the number 188 (the number of appearances he made for Le Gym), a bouquet of flowers and a superb standing ovation.

…AS WAS THURAM! 

Having made it into the Ligue 1 team of the season, as voted for by his peers at the UNFP’s end-of-season awards ceremony, Khephren Thuram was also the subject of praise before the game. The midfielder, who became a senior France international back in March, came along to show off his award to the Nice fans. Currently recovering from a hamstring injury that ruled him out of the closing stages of the campaign, ‘KT’ has racked up 48 games, two goals and eight assists with Le Gym in all competitions this season.

A RATHER SPECIAL ‘NISSA LA BELLA’  

Finally, on Saturday, 80 pupils from Collège Simone Veil sang ‘Nissa la Bella’ before the game against Lyon. The young artists from the east of the city spent months rehearsing as part of the ‘Mêlée des Cœurs’ scheme, which was initially set to take place during the 2023 Rugby World Cup but was eventually cancelled. Having been moved by the initiative and by the youngsters’ efforts, OGC Nice decided to offer them a field of expression on the pitch in what was a touching moment, as well as inviting them and their parents to attend the final game of the 2022–23 season from the stands.

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