Egypt defender Mohamed Abdel Moneim impresses as Nice secure first Ligue 1 win against Lille

Egyptian defender Mohamed Abdel Moneim played a key role as Nice secured their first victory of the French Ligue 1 season with a 2-1 win over Lille in the fifth round of the campaign.

The 27-year-old centre-back started the encounter and produced a solid defensive display as Nice claimed all three points, ending a difficult opening run that had seen them lose two matches and draw two.

The victory lifts Nice to five points from their opening five matches, leaving them 14th in the Ligue 1 standings, while Lille remain on 10 points and occupy fourth position despite suffering their second defeat of the campaign.

Abdel Moneim played the full match and was particularly effective in possession, helping Nice build from the back while also contributing significantly to their defensive efforts.

According to SofaScore, the Egyptian received a rating of 7.0, making him the fifth-highest-rated Nice player in the match.

The former Al Ahly defender recorded 14 defensive contributions during the encounter, including three interceptions and nine clearances. He also blocked one shot, recovered possession three times and won two of his four ground duels.

His work on the ball was equally impressive.

Abdel Moneim touched the ball 60 times and completed 42 of his 43 attempted passes, recording an outstanding 98 percent passing accuracy.

He was particularly efficient when distributing the ball in the opposition half, completing all 11 of his attempted passes in that area for a 100 percent success rate.

In his own half, the centre-back completed 31 of 32 passes, giving him a 97 percent success rate. He also completed one of his two attempted long balls and successfully completed one dribble.

The defender also maintained possession effectively, losing the ball on only eight occasions while helping Nice maintain control during important periods of the match.

His performance provided a strong foundation at the back as Nice held on for a crucial victory over Lille.

The result will come as a major boost to the French club after their difficult start to the season, while Abdel Moneim’s display will further underline his importance to the team’s defensive structure.

With Nice finally registering their first league victory of the campaign, the Egyptian international will now look to build on his encouraging performance as the club attempts to climb the Ligue 1 table.