In a high-stakes relegation playoff, OGC Nice have managed to retain all of their international stars for the first leg against Saint-Étienne, exploiting a little-known FIFA regulation. The Ligue 1 side communicated their 22-man squad on Tuesday morning, and it includes Hicham Boudaoui, Kojo Peprah Oppong, and Ali Abdi—three players whose availability was in doubt due to potential World Cup call-ups. The decision is a major boost for manager Claude Puel as the club fights to preserve its top-flight status.
The standoff centered on FIFA’s rules regarding player release for national team duty. Typically, clubs must release players 14 days before a final tournament, which in this case would have been May 25. However, the Fédérations of Algeria, Ghana, and Tunisia had not formally notified Nice within the required timeframe, according to the club. By invoking Annex 1, Article 3, paragraph 2 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP), Nice successfully argued that the call-ups were invalid.
That specific clause states that any association wishing to summon a player for a final international competition must notify the club in writing at least 15 days before the release period begins—here, by May 10. Since no such letters were received from the three FAs, Nice contended that the players were free to stay. FIFA backed the club’s interpretation, confirming that the regulation could indeed be applied in this manner.
With the green light from football’s governing body, Nice sent official correspondence to FIFA and the respective Fédérations, asserting their right to keep the players without facing sanctions. The outcome means Boudaoui, Oppong, and Abdi will be available for the entirety of the two-legged playoff, which concludes on Friday evening with the return match at the Allianz Riviera.
The resolution adds to a string of positive squad news for Nice. Ivorian forward Elye Wahi is suspended for Tuesday’s match, but his absence was known in advance. Meanwhile, Senegalese duo Antoine Mendy and Yéhvann Diouf had already been cleared to remain with the club beyond May 25 after their Fédération granted permission last week. Those arrangements were settled amicably, avoiding the legal brinkmanship needed for the other three.
There are, however, two notable absentees from the traveling party. Goalkeeper Maxime Dupé has been excused to be with his family ahead of a reportedly imminent birth, while midfielder Tom Louchet misses out due to a thigh injury. On a more positive note, Salis Abdul Samed, recently reinstated to first-team training after the Coupe de France final, is included in the squad and is unaffected by World Cup considerations, having been left out of Ghana’s preliminary list.
The strategic retention of key internationals could prove decisive. Nice entered the playoff on the back of a difficult domestic campaign and saw the French Cup final defeat as another blow to morale. With a full-strength squad now at his disposal, Puel can field his strongest XI in both legs, significantly improving the club’s chances of avoiding relegation to Ligue 2. The midfield presence of Boudaoui and the attacking threat of Peprah Oppong, combined with Abdi’s defensive solidity, offer a much-needed spine.
Interestingly, Nice are not alone in exploiting this regulatory loophole. According to L’Equipe, at least one other European club—Belgian side Standard Liège—finds itself in a similar situation and has also relied on the RSTP to keep its internationals. This parallel suggests that the interpretation of the 15-day notice rule could become a precedent for clubs facing final tournament clashes with domestic commitments.
The immediate focus now shifts to the pitch, where Nice must deliver a result against a Saint-Étienne side equally desperate for success. The return leg will be played just days later, after which Boudaoui, Oppong, and Abdi will depart to join Algeria, Ghana, and Tunisia respectively. For now, though, the Aiglons can breathe easier knowing their roster is intact.
The episode underscores the complex interplay between club and country during a congested football calendar. As the World Cup draws nearer, more clubs may scrutinize the precise wording of FIFA’s regulations to safeguard their interests. Nice’s legal maneuvering has set a clear example of how meticulous rule-reading can yield tangible competitive advantages.
Based on reporting from L'Equipe.