A change that raises questions on the Côte d’Azur. Since Claude Puel took over as head coach of OGC Nice at the end of December, the hierarchy of goalkeepers seems to have been shaken up. Maxime Dupé, previously the backup, is now preferred over Yehvann Diouf in the Nice goal.
At 32 years old, Dupé has played five Ligue 1 matches this season, all under the new coach. On the other hand, Diouf, 26, was the starter during the first half of the season with sixteen league matches but has now fallen down the pecking order. The Senegalese goalkeeper is paying the price for his absence at the start of Claude Puel’s tenure, as he was competing in the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 in Morocco. During this time, the Nice coach decided to give Dupé a chance, and he took it.
When asked at a press conference, Claude Puel remained deliberately vague about the management of his goalkeepers, without hinting at an imminent return to the previous hierarchy. “I don’t want to go into detail about the goalkeeper role. I’ve seen both players, we’ve assessed the situation, and that’s what matters. The goalkeeper is a part of the eleven,” he stated.
However, this decision is surprising. Before his departure for the AFCON, Yehvann Diouf was one of the few bright spots in a challenging first half of the season for the Gym, establishing himself as one of the most consistent and effective players in the squad.
It remains to be seen whether this reversed hierarchy will last or if upcoming performances will change the game. In the meantime, Claude Puel is sticking to his guns, risking further debate around a key position.
