Ghanaian defender Dennis Appiah has expressed his excitement after helping Saint-Etienne secure promotion back to the French Ligue 1. Appiah played a crucial role on Sunday when Saint-Etienne triumphed over Metz in the Ligue 1 final playoff at the Stade Saint Symphorien, ensuring their return to the top flight.
Prior to the return leg at Metz, Saint-Etienne had secured a 2-1 victory on home turf in the crucial playoff match. In the second leg, the former Nantes defender played the full 90 minutes as his team drew 2-2 with Metz.
Metz initially held a two-goal lead, but Saint-Etienne staged a remarkable comeback to force the game into extra time. Ultimately, Saint-Etienne secured their qualification with a 4-3 aggregate score and will compete in Ligue 1 next season.
Reflecting on the journey, Appiah recalled, "I just remember that a year and a half ago, when I presented myself at a press conference when we were twentieth, I was told, 'What the hell are you doing here? You're not better in Nantes?' I only had one idea in mind, which was to experience what we were experiencing there."
Appiah added, "We can be proud of what we did. We struggled. But we did it to experience all that. We struggled for two years but that's why I came. As we had predicted, Ibra' (Wadji) is having a tough season and he's the one who brings us up."
Saint-Etienne's promotion marks a significant achievement for the team, highlighting their perseverance and determination throughout the challenging season.
