Nice faces Saint-Étienne in crucial Ligue 1 playoff clash

Two Senegalese stars, Yehvann Diouf and Antoine Mendy, will lead the charge for OGC Nice when they face AS Saint-Étienne in the first leg of the Ligue 1 promotion/relegation playoffs this Tuesday. The match at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium carries immense weight, as the winner will secure a spot in next season’s top tier after a dramatic campaign.

Following their recent Coupe de France final loss to RC Lens, the Aiglons are determined to turn the page and leave a strong impression in Saint-Étienne. Nice, currently third in Ligue 2, will be the visitors, but their lineup features a blend of experience and determination as they aim to upset the odds.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. With Nice finishing 16th in Ligue 1 last season, this playoff represents their final opportunity to regain their place among the elite. Their opponents, Saint-Étienne, will be hosting at their iconic Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium, where home advantage could prove decisive in what promises to be a tightly contested first leg.

Under the leadership of their Senegalese duo, Diouf and Mendy—both set to start—the OGC Nice squad will look to impose their style and secure a favorable result ahead of the return fixture. All eyes will be on how the team navigates this high-pressure encounter, where every tackle and pass could shape their future in French football’s top division.