Lens have lifted the Coupe de France trophy, their inaugural conquest of the historic tournament, after a decisive 3-1 victory over Nice at the Stade de France on May 22, 2026. The triumph marks a significant moment for the club, which has long pursued this elusive title, with previous final appearances notably in 1998.
The match saw Florian Thauvin open the scoring for Lens in the 25th minute, a lead later extended by Odsonne Édouard just before halftime. Nice, through Djibril Coulibaly, managed to pull a goal back, but Abdallah Sima sealed Lens's victory in the 78th minute.
This cup win arrives as Lens concluded their Ligue 1 season in second place, trailing champions Paris St-Germain. The club's performance this season has been noted for its tactical discipline and offensive capability, mirroring their league efforts where they vied closely with the Parisian giants.
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A Season of Near Misses and Breakthroughs
Lens navigated a path through several established French football clubs to reach the final. Their route included victories over teams like Feignies, Sochaux, Troyes, Montpellier, Lyon, Lorient, and Toulouse.
Nice's journey to the final saw them overcome Saint-Étienne, Nantes, and Strasbourg, the latter thanks to a brace from Elye Wahi. This final appearance was Nice's first since 2022, with their last tournament win dating back to 1997. However, Nice has reportedly experienced a dip in form, with no Ligue 1 wins since mid-March and ending their domestic league campaign in a precarious third-to-last place.
The match, officiated by Jérôme Brisard, drew an attendance of 77,101 spectators. Lens's triumph is a historic milestone for a club with over 120 years of history.
