Reims Edge Past Cannes to Reach Coupe de France Final

Reims have reached the Coupe de France final after defeating Cannes 2-1, setting up a showdown with Paris Saint-Germain.

Stade de Reims has secured a spot in the Coupe de France final for the first time since 1977, defeating fourth-tier Cannes 2-1 in a thrilling match. This victory marked a significant milestone for Reims, as they avoided the nail-biting prospect of penalties, which had been a recurring theme in their previous four rounds.

Cannes, despite being a fourth-tier team, had already made a name for themselves by defeating three Ligue 2 sides en route to this stage. They put up a valiant effort in the early stages of the match, but Reims soon demonstrated their superior prowess. Junya Ito's shot was expertly tipped behind by the Cannes goalkeeper, and Almike N'Diaye made a crucial clearance of Cedric Kipre's header off the line, highlighting the threat that Reims posed.

The threat posed by Reims eventually proved too much for Cannes to handle, as Mamadou Diakhon broke free down the flank and delivered a pinpoint cutback to 19-year-old Hafiz Ibrahim. Ibrahim made no mistake, scoring his first-ever goal for Reims with a simple yet clinical finish in the 14th minute.

Undeterred by the setback, Cannes pushed forward in search of an equalizer. They created a few half-chances, including a corner that Yehvann Diouf misjudged, requiring his defense to bail him out. At the other end, Keito Nakamura shot wide, while Reims continued to pepper the Cannes goal with crosses. However, Les Rouges et Blancs dealt with the aerial threat reasonably well, although they struggled to contain Diakhon's pace and trickery. The young winger's probing runs earned him two fouls, with Cheikh Ndoye and Lorenzo Vinci receiving bookings in quick succession. Diakhon then played a beautifully weighted through-ball to Valentin Atangana, who unfortunately failed to capitalize on the opportunity.

🔚 90+5’ 1️⃣-2️⃣

🔥 𝗖’𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗙𝗔𝗜𝗜𝗜𝗜𝗧 ! Le Stade de Reims est en finale de la @coupedefrance !! 🏆

Bravo messieurs, quelle émotion ! 🔴⚪#ASCSDR #CoupeDeFrance pic.twitter.com/AyC2M4rSCh

— Stade de Reims (@StadeDeReims) April 2, 2025

The Stade Pierre de Coubertin erupted into jubilant celebrations just seven minutes into the second half, as Ndoye rose above the rest to meet a cross with a powerful header. Although Joseph Okumu attempted to clear the ball, he could only deflect it into his own net. However, Reims' lead was short-lived, as Teddy Teuma was introduced into the game and made an instant impact. The Maltese international applied a clinical first-time finish to Ibrahim's low ball, restoring Reims' advantage just six minutes later.

Cannes' Mathias Fischer was denied a swift equalizer, but the team's left-back soon delivered a pinpoint cross that found the head of Julien Domingues. Domingues' powerful header forced Reims goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf to make a spectacular save, keeping his team's lead intact.

The match continued to ebb and flow, with both teams creating scoring opportunities. Chafik Abbas and Oumar Diakité sent efforts wide at either end, as Cannes refused to give up on their fairy tale run. Arthur Dassiémou Mai embarked on a thrilling run, but his eventual shot sailed wide of the target. Despite Cannes' valiant efforts, Reims held on to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory.

The win marked Reims' first back-to-back competitive victories since October and set up a thrilling Coupe de France final showdown against Paris Saint-Germain. On the other hand, Cannes will now shift their focus to reigniting their push for a place in France's third tier, having suffered three consecutive losses across all competitions.