Kenny Lala’s stoppage-time penalty was saved low to the left as Brest’s final chance disappeared into the Brest night, allowing Nice to leave the Stade Francis-Le Blé with a 2-1 Ligue 1 victory on Friday.
Key takeaways
- Nice overturned Ludovic Ajorque’s first-half opener through goals from Elye Wahi and Sofiane Diop.
- Wahi equalised in the 61st minute after Mohammed Amoura delivered from a corner.
- Diop struck the winner seven minutes from time, finishing Elye Wahi’s pass into the bottom-left corner.
- Brest were awarded a VAR-confirmed penalty in the 97th minute, but Lala’s spot-kick was stopped by Yéhvann Diouf.
- The result came in Ligue 1 matchday eight at the Stade Francis-Le Blé on 23 October 2026.
Nice recover after Brest’s early strike
Brest made the sharper start and went ahead after 15 minutes when Ajorque finished left-footed from the middle of the box. Pathé Mboup had earlier tested Diouf from the right side of the area, while Bradley Locko sent efforts wide and saw another attempt blocked.
Nice gradually established pressure, forcing a succession of corners. Mohammed Amoura had attempts blocked in the 17th and 23rd minutes, Jonathan Clauss also saw a shot repelled, and Amoura fired wide after another set-piece. Elye Wahi was caught offside three times in the opening period as Nice searched for a way through.
Brest had opportunities to extend their advantage before the interval. Kamory Doumbia missed from Mama Baldé’s cross, while Mboup had a shot blocked after Hugo Magnetti set him up. The home side took their one-goal lead into half-time.
Nice resumed with greater urgency. Kenny Lala’s early second-half effort was held, before Brest won a corner and continued to threaten through crosses. But the visitors drew level in the 61st minute: Amoura’s delivery from a corner found Wahi, who converted from close range at the right side of goal.
Nice were forced into an injury substitution seven minutes earlier, with Hamza Koutoune replacing Clauss. Sofiane Diop entered for Gauthier Hein in the 63rd minute, while Djibril Coulibaly and Isak Jansson later replaced Axel Witsel and Amoura.
Diop decides it before Diouf’s late save
Brest turned to their bench as the match opened up, bringing on Joseph Nonge and Noah Edjouma for Mama Baldé and Mboup in the 70th minute. Ibrahim Kanté and Mamady Diambou followed, replacing Doumbia and Joris Chotard, while Mathis Lainé came on for Magnetti near the end.
Lucas Tousart headed straight at Diouf in the 79th minute, shortly before play was halted for an injury to Nice defender Alidu Seidu. Brest had also seen Magnetti shoot high from a Lala free-kick.
Then came Nice’s decisive moment in the 83rd minute. After an earlier offside flag against Hamza Koutoune, Wahi supplied Diop in the area and the substitute drove a right-footed finish low inside the left post.
The closing stages were littered with cards. Brest’s Locko, Ajorque and Doumbia were booked, while Nice’s Koutoune, Wahi, Jansson, Nkounkou and goalkeeper Diouf also went into the referee’s book. Diouf’s caution came after Ibrahim Kanté was penalised for handball.
Brest nevertheless had one last route back. Gautier Lloris had a header blocked, and in the fourth minute of six added minutes Kanté went down under Jansson’s challenge in the penalty area. After a VAR review, the referee awarded Brest a penalty.
Lala stepped up in the 100th minute, but Diouf made the low save to his left. Edjouma then curled a left-footed effort just beyond the near post after the resulting free-kick sequence, and Nice held firm through to the final whistle.
