The Aiglons have successfully defended their position in French football’s top tier. OGC Nice ensured their survival in the elite division by clinching a 3-1 victory over AS Saint-Etienne at the Allianz Riviera on Friday night. Following a lackluster first leg that ended in a scoreless draw without a single shot on target, this return fixture proved far more explosive.
Late drama at the Allianz Riviera
The deadlock was broken late in the game when 19-year-old Kail Boudache found the net in the 81st minute. His strike came just moments after Zuriko Davitashvili had leveled the score for the visitors from the penalty spot. The tension was finally lifted when Elye Wahi struck twice in the closing stages. Finding the back of the net in the 87th minute and again deep into stoppage time (90+2), Wahi guaranteed the win, sparking celebrations across the home bench and throughout the stadium.
Nice continues long run in the elite
Having finished the regular season in 16th place, Nice avoids the drop alongside Metz and Nantes. This result means the club will compete in the first division for the 2026-2027 season, marking their 25th consecutive year in the top flight. Conversely, Saint-Etienne, who fell to the second division at the end of the 2024-2025 campaign, will have to wait at least another year to seek promotion back to the summit of French football.
