Midfielder Mario Lemina became the latest Nice player to be burgled whilst away on international duty when armed robbers broke into his house.

Midfielder Mario Lemina became the latest Nice player to be burgled whilst away on international duty when armed robbers broke into his house.

Lemina was away with the Gabon team for Africa 2022 Soccer World Cup qualifiers as thieves held up his wife in their house in the hills just outside Nice.

Police in Nice say thieves made off with watches and other valuables worth around €300 000 (R5 million).

Last September Nice forward Kasper Dolberg’s car was stolen from an airport car park before his house was burgled, also while he was away playing football for Denmark.

Mario Lemina, 28, who currently plays for Nice in Ligue 1, has previously represented Lorient, Marseille, Juventus, Southampton, Fulham and Galatasaray.

Gabon are currently third in Group F with little chance of progressing to the next phase of qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Qatar.