Abdulai Juma Bah, a 19-year-old Sierra Leonean defender on loan from Manchester City, is poised to make his UEFA Champions League debut as OGC Nice prepares to face Benfica in the third qualifying round first leg at the Allianz Riviera.

Bah joined Nice on a season-long loan and is eager to continue his development with the French club. The match notably marks Nice’s first competitive outing of the season, with the Ligue 1 campaign set to kick off in two weeks.

Following the first leg against Benfica, which is expected to be a challenging encounter for Nice, the team will travel to Lisbon for the second leg. Shortly after, they will host Toulouse on August 16.

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Last season, Nice finished fourth in Ligue 1 but faces a tough road to secure participation in European tournaments this year, having to navigate two rounds of qualifying. The matchup against Benfica is particularly daunting, as the Portuguese side is considered a strong contender.

Nice enters this match as the underdog, especially after a disappointing European campaign last year, where they managed only three points from eight group stage matches in the Europa League, finishing second-bottom. Over the past decade, Nice has struggled in European competitions, achieving just one knockout victory against Sheriff Tiraspol.

Despite their challenges, the minimum outcome for Nice in this qualifying round is a spot in the UEFA Conference League. However, the team is aiming high, hoping for a chance to compete in the Champions League.

The winner of the Nice vs. Benfica match will face either Fenerbahce or Feyenoord in the next round, setting the stage for a tough competition among teams vying for a place in the league phase.