Mohamed Abdelmonem returns to Nice squad after 484-day absence

Mohamed Abdelmonem has been named in the OGC Nice squad for the first time in 484 days as the French club prepare to face Lorient in the opening round of the 2026-27 Ligue 1 season.

Nice will host Lorient on Saturday evening, with Abdelmonem included in the matchday group after missing the entire of last season because of an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

The Egypt international’s last appearance for Nice came on 25 April 2025 against Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1. That match ended prematurely for the defender when he suffered the knee injury that ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign.

Abdelmonem did not play a single competitive match for Nice last season. He was, however, included in Egypt’s squad for the 2026 World Cup, where the team’s campaign ended in the last 16 after a defeat by Argentina.

The 27-year-old joined Nice from Al Ahly during the 2024-25 season and has made 18 appearances for the club since his move. His return to the squad represents a significant step in his recovery, although he is not expected to start against Lorient.

According to projected line-ups published by French media, Abdelmonem is likely to begin the match on the substitutes’ bench. He did not feature in any of Nice’s friendly matches during pre-season, instead continuing with his rehabilitation programme and training work.

His inclusion nevertheless marks his first involvement with the Nice senior squad since the injury sustained against Paris Saint-Germain. The defender will now have the opportunity to return to competitive action after a lengthy period on the sidelines, depending on the decision of manager Olivier Pantaloni.

The match will be played behind closed doors, with Nice serving a sanction imposed after crowd trouble during last season’s fixture against Metz. As a result, the club’s opening league game of the new campaign will take place without supporters inside the stadium.

Nice will therefore begin 2026-27 with Abdelmonem back among the available players, but with the Egypt defender expected to start as a substitute while he continues to rebuild his match fitness.