The last derby in Monaco bore his mark—a 50-metre flash of brilliance, mesmerising dribbles and an unstoppable strike. It was the climax of a crazy evening and the start of a wild night. On 29 September 2023, Jeremie Boga introduced himself to Nice fans with a moment that remains unforgettable. A year and a half later, Le Gym are preparing to return to the Principality. As for "The Elephant," he is eager to get back on track, put injuries behind him and get back on the pitch. Ahead of the shortest trip of the season, he speaks, paying tribute to his own talent and offering hope for the future.

Jeremie, what memories do you have of 29 September 2023?

A great memory. It was my first goal with Nice. I was coming back from an injury that had disrupted my start to the season. I think we were fighting for first place at the time… It was my first game in Monaco. I had never played there before. I remember the atmosphere, the passion of the supporters, and the joy in the dressing room. On the bench, I already had chills. I was ready to come on (which he did in the 60th minute, replacing Sofiane Diop, editor’s note). I had seen some amazing pictures of the derby before arriving—like the one we won with a brace from Terem and a goal from Khephren… We created another special moment that night, with the victory and the magnificent blue jersey. Hopefully, we’ll get to experience the same emotions this weekend.

Your goal was extraordinary. Where does it rank in your career?

It’s in my top three for sure. The other two? My first goal for the national team against Malawi (Ivory Coast’s 3-0 win on 8 October 2021). It was beautiful, and the emotion I felt was something I had never experienced before. The other one was my goal against Buffon’s Juventus (2-2 on 1 December 2019). I was young, I used to watch him on TV as a kid, and I even played as him on the PlayStation. At that moment, I thought: “Wow, scoring against Buffon, and with a chip shot too… That’s something special. This one will stay with me.”

What other derbies have you played in your career?

Quite a few. At Rennes, against Nantes, during my first season as a pro (2015-16). At Birmingham (2017-18), against Aston Villa. Those who know that rivalry understand how intense it can get. It was madness. Two or three weeks before the game, fans came to see us, saying, “We can finish last, but we absolutely cannot lose this match.” Since both teams are in the same city, the atmosphere was electric. In Italy, I didn’t really play in derbies, but there was a real rivalry between Sassuolo and Bologna.

Does the fact that Le Gym (4th) is tied with Monaco (3rd) at this stage of the season add extra significance to the match?

Of course. Monaco is a direct competitor; we have the same number of points (47). With a win, we can pull ahead a little, but no matter what happens, there are still seven games left. A long stretch ahead. This season, we’ve seen how quickly things can change—teams rise and fall in an instant. So nothing will be decided after Saturday. However, a win there could give us great momentum at a crucial point in the season. We’re all aware of that. We need to find our rhythm again.

"WE NEED TO GET THE MACHINE GOING AGAIN"

Le Gym head into this match on the back of a defeat (0-2 against Lyon) and a draw that felt like a loss against Auxerre (1-1). How are you dealing with this period?

We know that a season is long. We’ve had a few tough moments, but overall, our form has been good—otherwise, we wouldn’t be in this position at this stage of the season. We need to get the machine going again, and the best way to do that is by winning in Monaco. Even though it’s going to be very difficult…

What are ASM’s strengths?

They press a lot. They play very directly and love duels. We’ll need to be smart and play to our strengths, because we have plenty. We can hurt them. On a personal level, I know some of their players. I play with Singo in the national team—he’s a great defender. We often play in the same area and know each other well. We faced off many times in Italy when he was at Torino, and now we might meet again.

There are eight games left. How do you evaluate the season so far from a team perspective?

It’s been good. We’re in the top four, neck and neck with our direct rivals. We also have a small lead that we need to hold onto. Despite a recent dip, we’re in a good position. We’ve managed to string together good results, even against the top teams. We’ve been consistent, otherwise, we wouldn’t be here. We need to keep going.

Some say a new league begins in the final sprint…

That’s partly true because this is when everything is decided. If you collapse in the final stretch, you could even miss out on Europe, which was our goal at the start of the season. But if you give it your all and pick up points, you can climb even higher. The sprint is crucial, but what came before is just as important—to build a strong foundation, be well-positioned and ready to push forward. That’s why I mentioned consistency. We’ve worked hard to be in this position. Now we have to go for it.

"I’M TOUCHING WOOD AND JUST HOPING TO STAY INJURY-FREE TO HELP THE TEAM, THE CLUB AND BRING JOY TO THE FANS"

And on a personal level, how do you assess your season?

Individually, it’s been a tough season—let’s be honest. I started with an injury in pre-season. I came back, managed to get a bit of momentum, scored in the Europa League, but then picked up some minor injuries that kept me out for two or three weeks, followed by a major one. I never really had a chance to build consistency, except at the start of the season. Every time I returned and started feeling good physically, something happened. That was the hardest part because I know that when I’m fully fit, I can contribute. I trust my abilities. For this final sprint, I’m touching wood and just hoping to stay injury-free so I can help the team, the club and bring joy to the fans. Physically, I feel good now. I just need more rhythm and game time, but that will come.

Do you think you’re still feeling the effects of last season, with everything that happened—including winning the Africa Cup of Nations?

Honestly, I don’t know. I never really asked myself that question. Physically and mentally, last season was intense, with a lot of emotions, especially winning the AFCON. But I still finished the season well with Le Gym, so it’s hard to explain. I’ve always been professional off the pitch and taken care of my body. Hopefully, all that is behind me now so I can help the team—because the team is the most important thing.

Do you feel the team has stepped up with more players returning?

Yes. This season, we have rarely had the full squad available for the coach and staff. The more players return, the more quality we have. When you see Morgan, Terem, or Tanguy—who were also injured and are now coming back, like me—it only raises the level in training. That’s good for everyone. It pushes us, and it gives the coach some selection headaches.

Where does the coach specifically expect more from you?
He wants me to be more decisive. That’s what he’s always told me. To be clinical and always in the right areas. We’re playing in a different system than last season, where I was more on the left side, hugging the touchline, focused on one-on-ones. This season, in this system, I’m positioned more inside, closer to the midfielders, the forwards, and the finishing zone. I think this position can help me take a step forward. Whether on the wing or inside, dribbling remains my biggest strength, and I still manage to find spaces. But now, I need to be present in front of goal. You can have a good game, but with or without that final touch, the perception of your performance is completely different. These days, stats matter a lot, as does being decisive, but I don’t lose confidence in myself. I know my qualities and I know I still have work to do to be more decisive.

"I KNOW THERE ARE EXPECTATIONS. IT’S GOOD PRESSURE…"

Last season, were you at your best?
I had a lot of games where I felt really good, so yes, I’d say I was at my top level. But I’ve always believed I have more to give and more levels to reach. I can contribute even more to OGC Nice, and I’ll do everything to make that happen. I know there are expectations. That’s good pressure because as long as people expect a lot from you, it means they believe in you. It’s when people stop expecting anything that things start to go wrong.

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Constantin Djivas

Hugo Burg