Coupe de France: Wahi doubles up to send Nice to final
In an all-Ligue 1 McDonald's Coupe de France semifinal, RC Strasbourg lost 2-0 to OGC Nice at La Meinau, to reach next month's final against RC Lens.
A cagy first half
Still missing Dante and Moise Bombito in defence, Nice would have Hicham Boudaoui back in midfield, with Charles Vanhoutte fit enough for the bench and Morgan Sanson playing in an advanced role. Playing with their customary three at the back, Claude Puel's side would try to frustrate Racing as they had Lille in Ligue 1 McDonald's at the weekend. As for the hosts, Gary O'Neil deployed a first-choice eleven, but with Guéla Doué (illness) and Valentín Barco (knock) unavailable. After being rested at the weekend, though, both Emanuel Emegha and Diego Moreira were back in the side for the Alsatians.
The match, from the off, way somewhat one-way traffic with Les Aiglons seeking to take the sting out of a potent Racing attack, even if the visitors had the first two shots on target. These were tame efforts, though, and the hosts had the first two big chances, but neither Martial Godo (20') nor Emanuel Emegha (23') could test Maxime Dupé from close range, both moves coming after some fine play with the ball at his feet by Moreira. From there, the intensity of the match dropped somewhat, with Racing struggling to break down Nice's defence, and halftime came with the score level.
STRASBOURG 0-1 NICE 🦅
ELYE WAHI WITH A CLINICAL FINISH! 🥅 pic.twitter.com/7ANkMXkCZd— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) April 22, 2026
Wahi breaks the deadlock
Just three minutes into the first half, there was a heart-in-mouth moment for Nice as Dupé misplayed a ball at the back, but Emegha was unable to capitalize. Two minutes later, Racing streamed forward on the break, only for Julio Enciso to drag en effort just wide -- the hosts had the bit well and truly between their teeth, but would soon pay for their lack of finishing. Ben Chilwell missed a pass on the flank, and Jonathan Clauss pounced, playing a fine ball over the top for Elye Wahi, the on-loan former Lens striker too happy to tuck the ball into the bottom corner (51').
Racing struggled to establish themselves, and while they would force a fine save from Dupé (75') from Enciso, the host's lack of a cutting edge would fail them, and Wahi would seal the result ten minutes from time from the penalty spot. O'Neil would make a raft of attacking changes, but nothing would get the Alsatians back into the match, and their focus will now turn to Ligue 1 McDonald's and the Conference League. As for Nice, they'll look to win the Coupe for the first time in nearly thirty years after reaching their second final in five years.
