Elye Wahi back for Nice one month after Lyon injury, club pin hopes on loanee | OneFootball

L'Équipe reports that Elye Wahi has returned to the OGC Nice squad for Saturday's trip to Angers at 19:00, recovering quicker than expected from the serious ankle sprain suffered within seconds at Lyon in mid-February.

Nice have taken seven points from nine Ligue 1 matches in 2026 and are 15th. They have gone over 300 minutes without a goal in all competitions, blank in four of five without their winter recruit.

Up front they cycled through Kevin Carlos and stand-ins Sofiane Diop and Mohamed-Ali Cho. Cho, better on the right, is now out with a foot arch issue from the 0-4 loss to Rennes.

On loan from Frankfurt with no option to buy, Wahi ranks only 23rd at Nice for minutes this season and is unlikely to stay beyond May due to his salary. He has been sorely missed since that setback, having scored three times in his first four Ligue 1 outings.

He is also looking to answer for complicated spells at OM and Frankfurt in the past two seasons.

Head coach Claude Puel has praised the striker's work and desire to return fast, crediting intensive treatment and the staff for shaving days, even weeks, off estimates, and noting mentality helps recovery.

Captain Dante sees Wahi's quality as proven and, free of late-November baggage, bringing freshness the group needs.

His comeback could aid club and player alike, with steps under way for an Ivorian passport and a place with the Elephants at the next World Cup not entirely ruled out.

Source: L'Équipe