Freetown, Sierra Leone / Nice, France – Sierra Leonean defender Abdulai Juma Bah has issued a heartfelt farewell message to OGC Nice, thanking the club, teammates, staff, and fans following the conclusion of his season-long loan spell.
The 20-year-old centre-back, who joined Nice in July 2025, played a key role in a turbulent 2025/26 Ligue 1 campaign that saw the Riviera club battle against relegation before securing their top-flight status.
In his message, posted as the season wrapped up, Bah reflected on the challenges faced by the team:
“To OGC Nice, the staff, my teammates, and our incredible fans, as the 2025/2026 season comes to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect and give thanks. This season tested us all. There was stress, suffering, drama, and moments where things looked tough. But when it mattered most, we stood together. At the bottom line, we achieved our goal — saving the club and securing our place in Ligue 1 for the 2026/2027 season.”
Nice finished 16th in the league table and had to navigate a tense relegation playoff against Saint-Étienne. They ultimately prevailed 4-1 on aggregate in the two-legged tie, with Bah featuring in the decisive matches.
Tribute to Club, Teammates, and Fans
Bah continued by expressing gratitude to the various stakeholders at the club:
“To the club — thank you for your belief and support through every high and low. To my teammates and staff — your fight, resilience, and brotherhood made the difference. To the fans — you never stopped singing, believing, and pushing us. We felt you every game, home and away. You are the heart of this club.”
He concluded with a message to supporters worldwide and a rallying cry for the future:
“To everyone who followed, supported, and prayed for us throughout this journey — thank you. This survival is for all of us. The battle is done, but the work continues, stronger, to make this club great again!!!! Allez Le Gym.”
Bah’s Season in Numbers
The towering 1.95m (6’5″) defender made 26 appearances (22 starts) for Nice in Ligue 1 during the 2025/26 season, logging nearly 2,000 minutes. He contributed with solid defensive displays, including a notable save against Paris Saint-Germain, while picking up seven yellow cards.
Background and Career Trajectory
Born on April 11, 2006, in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Bah rose from local football and helping at his father’s bakery to European prominence. He progressed through AIK Freetown before moving to Spain with Real Valladolid, where he impressed enough to earn a move to Manchester City in January 2025. After a brief loan at Lens earlier in 2025, he arrived at Nice seeking regular first-team football.
His loan at Nice is set to end in June 2026, with his parent club Manchester City holding him under contract until 2031. The young international (capped for Sierra Leone) has seen his market value rise to around €10 million.
