Valenciennes may have ended their final home match of the season with a 4-3 defeat to newly crowned champions Nancy on Friday evening, but French-Ghanaian forward Stredair Appuah delivered a standout performance that gave home fans reason to applaud.
The 19-year-old striker was a constant threat throughout the match and scored a composed equalizer in the 34th minute, capping off a determined first-half fightback after Valenciennes had gone two goals down. Nancy raced into an early lead with a quick-fire brace from Dabasse in the 16th and 19th minutes, but Boutoutaou pulled one back from a brilliant free-kick before Appuah brought the game level.
Appuah’s movement and intensity were central to Valenciennes’ resurgence, but the visitors regained control after the break. Bokangu restored Nancy’s lead in the 56th minute before Gomel made it 4-2 in the 75th. Teenage substitute Kouakou netted his first professional goal late on to cut the deficit, but VAFC couldn’t complete the comeback.
The result leaves Valenciennes 10th in the standings with one match remaining — a trip to Aubagne. Despite a difficult campaign, Appuah ends the season with 3 goals in 13 National appearances, emerging as one of the club’s few bright spots.
