Lens claims maiden French Cup title with victory over Nice

Lens RC supporters gathered at the Bollaert stadium in Lens, northern France, to watch the French Cup final football match between Lens RC and Nice OGC on a giant screen on May 22, 2026, waving team scarves in anticipation.

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The match itself saw Lens claim their first-ever French Cup title with a 3-1 win over Nice at the Stade de France on Friday, marking a historic moment for the club.

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Florian Thauvin, a World Cup winner with France in 2018, played a crucial role in Lens' victory, scoring one goal and providing an assist for Odsonne Edouard, as the team took a 2-0 lead late in the first half.

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Just before the interval, teenager Djibril Coulibaly scored his first senior goal to pull one back for Nice, and the team went on to hit the woodwork twice in the second half in a bid to mount a comeback.

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However, Lens secured their win when substitute Abdallah Sima scored in the 78th minute, sparking ecstatic celebrations among the team's supporters.

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This triumph marks the culmination of a remarkable campaign for the northern French club, who finished second in Ligue 1 behind Paris Saint-Germain and qualified for next season's Champions League as a result.

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Notably, Lens had never previously won the French Cup, despite reaching the final three times, with their most recent appearance being in 1998, the same year they won their only league title.

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The Stade de France, with its 80,000-seat capacity, was largely filled with Lens supporters, while many Nice fans chose not to attend, reflecting their disillusionment with the team's performance.

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Nice's defeat adds to their struggles in a challenging season, which has seen them finish third-bottom in Ligue 1, and they now face a two-legged play-off against second-tier Saint-Etienne to secure their top-flight status.