Nîmes Olympique: the departure of Nazih, the arrival of Cozzella, the absence of Sacko, the postponed return of Doukansy, the latest echoes of the Crocos

Vincenzo Cozzella, Italian goalkeeper recruited by the Crocos, in discussion with his coach Frédéric Bompard this Wednesday January 31 at La Bastide. Midi Libre – Thierry Albenqjue

Amjhad Nazih, who terminated his contract, will have only played three professional matches with Nîmes, including a 5th round of the Coupe de France in Auch against Pavie, in October 2023. Midi Libre – THIERRY ALBENQUE

Goalkeeper Amjhad Nazih has terminated his contract with the Croco club. He was replaced numerically by the Italian Vincenzo Cozzella, recruited on Tuesday.

He had the label of promising goalkeeper. French international U17 (4 selections) and U18 (1 selection), Moroccan international U23 (1 selection), Amjhad Nazih ultimately never managed to break through at Nîmes Olympique, with no coach having given him the opportunity to do so. given a chance. This Wednesday, January 31, the 22-year-old from Sétois – he celebrated his birthday on January 18 – terminated his contract, which ran until the end of the season, to join Laval (L2), a priori under amateur license and to play as a reserve team, in National 3.

With the Crocos, three matches only as a pro team

With the Croco club, which he joined in 2017, Nazih only played three matches with the pros: one in Ligue 2 last May in… Laval ( 2-0 defeat) and two in the Coupe de France, in February 2021 in front of Nice (3-1 defeat) and in October 2023 in Auch against Pavie (7-0 victory). At the start of the season, when Lucas Dias was dismissed after four days, Nîmes coach Frédéric Bompard did not call on him, preferring Tao Paradowski, 18, under amateur contract…

Cozzella, "a guardian in the making"  

Nîmes had anticipated the departure of Nazih by signing at the start of the week, to replace him numerically, the Italian Vincenzo Cozzella, 22 years old. The native of Bitonto, in the Puglia region , participated this Wednesday afternoon at La Bastide in his second training session with his new partners. “I haven't had time to see it enough yet. I'm going to find out but it looks good, emphasizes Frédéric Bompard, who chats in Italian with his new player, even if the latter can also express himself in the French language. , learned during his visits to Montpellier and Auxerre.

#football Nouvelle recrue de @nimesolympique, le gardien Cozzella à l’entraînement avec deux de ses nouveaux partenaires, Paradowski et le jeune Quentin Léger. Nazih manque à l’appel. Ondoa pas encore rentré de la CAN. pic.twitter.com/SDuNIBzbWn

— Midi Libre Sports (@MidiLibreSports) January 31, 2024

 "He’is a goalkeeper in the making with an important athletic profile, explosiveness and commitment to aerial balls. He has qualities on his line and in one-on-one situations. It's up to us to continue to develop him, explains Anthony Babikian, Nîmes Olympique goalkeeper coach who knew him since his passage to Montpellier between 2018 and 2021 and which again notes: "He's a very sunny boy. We feel that it will bring a lot of positive energy. Vincenzo Cozzella will be number 3 of the Crocs goalkeepers. "He's going to play his part like everyone else, of course. He arrives to  show what he is capable of", specifies Babikian.  

Paradowski starts at Le Mans, Ondoa returns Monday

For the moment, it is Tao Paradowski, 19 years old in a few days (February 27), who remains number 1. Whoever plays with an amateur license will be the holder for the thirteenth time in the Championship on Friday February 2 at Le Mans (19th day of National). Will he keep his place once Fabrice Ondoa returns from the CAN ? The Cameroonian international, who played three matches with the Indomitable Lions, eliminated in the round of 16, will make his return to La Bastide next Monday. The technical staff gave him a few days of rest “to let him recover and regenerate”, said Anthony Babikian.

#football Travail devant le but pour les joueurs de @nimesolympique qui ont face à eux Cozzella. Labonne, Doukansy et Sacko ne sont pas avec le groupe. pic.twitter.com/Tt5cDwSHfH

— Midi Libre Sports (@MidiLibreSports) January 31, 2024

Thoumin operational, Doukansy still in recovery phase

Twenty-one outfield players and three goalkeepers (Paradowski, Cozzella and the young Quentin Léger) participated this Wednesday afternoon in training, a session essentially focused on work in front of goal . The hematoma on his left knee has resolved, Thoumin is fully operational again. Absent since the restart to treat an injury to the external lateral ligament of a knee, Doukansy is still in the recovery phase. He works under the orders of Alexandre Duclaux, the physical trainer. Frédéric Bompard hoped to see him rejoin the group next Monday but the medical staff postponed his return for a week. Victim of a strained right quadriceps on January 15 in Sochaux, Labonne is still in treatment.

#football Doukansy travaille à part. Le milieu de @nimesolympique, absent depuis le début de l’année pour soigner un genou, devrait reprendre avec le groupe la semaine prochaine. pic.twitter.com/Q8oMnI9ILI

— Midi Libre Sports (@MidiLibreSports) January 31, 2024

Sacko soon to be dad

Author of an interesting entry into play last Friday against Rouen (2-0), Ibrahim Sacko was missing. The crocodile midfielder was in Nice with his wife, about to give birth to their first child.

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