Strasbourg dey prepare to welcome Nice for Stade de la Meinau dis Wednesday for one big Coupe de France semi-final match. Na over twenty years dem never reach dis stage for di competition, but now dem get chance to go final if dem win. Di Alsace club qualify for here after dem beat Reims 2-1 for quarter-final, wia dem score two penalty for last ten minutes of di match. Nice sef reach semi-final after dem win Lorient 6-5 for penalty shootout.
For Strasbourg side, di coach Gary O'Neil don get some good news as some key players dey return for dis important match. According to L'Équipe report, players like Martial Godo, Julio Enciso, Samir El-Mourabet and Andrew Omobamidele wey dem bench for dia last match against Rennes go likely start against Nice. Di medical team warn say starting Diego Moreira or Emmanuel Emegha for dat Rennes match go risky, so O’Neil follow dia advice.
But still get some injury wahala for Strasbourg. Mathis Amougou get ankle injury wey go make am miss di semi-final, and e need to rest for some days. Ismaël Doukouré wey bin dey sick before don recover and go available. Small doubt still dey for Guéla Doué, Ben Chilwell and Valentin Barco, but O’Neil talk say Barco sef wan play for weekend match. Monday dem dedicate for treatment and indoor work as dem wan make sure di team dey ready for di big match.
Strasbourg form for home ground dey strong. Dem no lose for eight of dia last nine matches for Stade de la Meinau across all competitions, and for two of dia last three home games dem score three goals or more. For Coupe de France specifically, dem win dia last three home matches without conceding any goal for first half. Anytime dem score first goal for dis competition dis decade, dem always win di match.
Nice own season no too sweet at all, but winning dis trophy fit make dem salvage small pride. Dem no fit reach Europe through league again dis season, but dis Coupe de France final be another chance for dem. Claude Puel men no lose for two of dia last three away matches, but dem never win any Coupe de France match outside Nice for normal time since January 2025.
For head-to-head, Strasbourg no lose for dia last three meetings with Nice. Both times dem meet for dis competition for Strasbourg home ground, Strasbourg win, with di last one happen for 1980. Nice never win at Strasbourg for dis competition before, but dem win di previous Coupe de France tie against dem for 1980 to advance.
Injury list for Nice include Moise Bombito wey get leg fracture, Dante wey get calf strain, while Charles Vanhoutte and Youssouf Ndayishimiye get knocks. For Strasbourg side, top scorer Joaquin Panichelli out for di rest of di season with ACL injury, Junior Mwanga get shoulder injury, and Aaron Anselmino dey manage hamstring problem.
Di match go important for both teams. Strasbourg wan reach dia first Coupe de France final since 2001 wen dem win di trophy on penalties against Amiens. Nice wan make dia second final for dis decade. Di atmosphere for Stade de la Meinau go electric as fans dey expect di team to continue dia good home form.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
