RC Lens claimed their first French Cup with a 3-1 win over Nice after Florian Thauvin scored one goal and set up another to clinch the trophy at the Stade de France on Friday.
Thauvin, a 2018 World Cup winner who was left out of the France squad for next month’s final, opened the scoring before his perfect corner was headed in by Odsonne Edouard for Lens’ second goal.
Djibril Coulibaly pulled a goal back for Nice just before half-time.
Lens’ second-half substitute Abdallah Sima sealed the victory with 12 minutes remaining, sparking wild celebrations among the 50,000 Lens fans who traveled to Paris in the hope of seeing their club claim a first trophy since the 1999 League Cup.
The victory capped a remarkable season for Lens, whose only top-flight title came in 1998 and finished second to Paris St Germain in Ligue 1 this season.
Nice will take on Ligue 2 side St Etienne in a two-legged play-off on May 26 and 29 to maintain their top-flight status.
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After a shaky start from both sides, Lens, who owed two spectacular saves to Robin Risser, took the lead in the 25th minute when Thauvin met Matthieu Udol’s cross in the area and found the net with a clinical left foot.
The Northerners doubled their lead in the 42nd, with Edouard beating Maxime Dupe with a header from Thauvin’s corner.
The 17-year-old Coulibaly reduced the deficit just before half time and headed in a corner kick from Jonathan Claus.
Nice came close to an equalizer on the hour mark, but Antoine Mendy’s header hit the crossbar.
But Lens wrapped it up in the 78th minute when Sima, who had replaced Edouard 12 minutes earlier, outwitted two Nice defenders and beat Dupe with a low shot for his fifth goal in six league games.
Published on May 23, 2026
