Hatem Ben Arfa forced to wait for Nice debut

France winger Hatem Ben Arfa will not be able to make his debut for Nice in Saturday`s Ligue 1 match against Lorient after his international clearance failed to arrive in time.

Nice coach Claude Puel had initially included the former Lyon, Marseille and Newcastle player in an enlarged squad for the game but the Cote d`Azur club confirmed on Saturday that the French Football Federation were still waiting for the FA to pass on his registration.

Ben Arfa, 27, signed an 18-month deal with Nice after his contract with Newcastle was cancelled.

He will now hope to make his debut away to Bordeaux next Friday.