RC Lens wrote a new chapter in club history at the Stade de France. Backed by a sea of red and gold supporters, Lens defeated OGC Nice 3-1 to lift the Coupe de France for the first time, ending decades of waiting with a performance full of heart, quality, and belief.
The final carried huge importance for both clubs. Lens were chasing their first major trophy since the 1999 League Cup, while Nice arrived desperate to rescue a difficult season that still hangs in the balance with a looming relegation playoff.
The opening stages reflected that tension. Chances came and went as nerves gripped both sides, but the game exploded into life through Allan Saint-Maximin, whose dazzling run and effort flew narrowly over the bar. Moments later, Elye Wahi wasted a golden opening for Nice.
Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser then stepped into the spotlight. The young shot-stopper produced brilliant saves to deny Sofiane Diop and Dante, keeping his side alive during a frantic spell. Those interventions proved crucial as momentum slowly shifted toward Pierre Sage’s men.
The breakthrough arrived in the 25th minute. Florian Thauvin, overlooked for France’s upcoming international campaign despite an excellent season, collected Matthieu Udol’s clever pass before drilling a composed finish into the net.
The goal ignited the Lens supporters behind the goal. Nearly 50,000 fans had travelled to Paris dreaming of history, and suddenly that dream felt close enough to touch.
Lens struck again just before halftime. Thauvin’s perfectly delivered corner found Odsonne Edouard, whose header took a slight deflection before beating Maxime Dupé. At 2-0, the Stade de France shook with noise from the red-and-gold half of the stadium.
Yet Nice refused to disappear quietly. Seventeen-year-old Djibril Coulibaly pulled one back in stoppage time with a powerful header from Jonathan Clauss’s corner, giving Les Aiglons renewed belief before the break.
Claude Puel’s side pushed hard after halftime. Antoine Mendy came within inches of equalising when his towering header crashed against the crossbar. Later, substitute Kevin Carlos hit the post again, as frustration grew among the Nice players and fans.
But finals are often decided by moments of composure, and Lens found theirs. Abdallah Sima, introduced from the bench, bullied his way through two defenders before poking home the decisive third goal with 12 minutes left. It was his fifth goal in six Coupe de France appearances, and the strike finally broke Nice’s resistance.
For Lens, this victory caps a remarkable campaign after finishing runners-up in Ligue 1 behind Paris Saint-Germain. More than silverware, it felt like confirmation that the club’s rise is no longer a surprise story but a genuine force in French football.
