Kenyan international Joseph Okumu played the entire match as his French Ligue 1 club, Stade de Reims, secured a place in the Coupe de France final with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over fourth-tier AS Cannes on Wednesday. This victory marks Reims’ first appearance in the final of the prestigious competition since 1977.
Reims took an early lead in the 14th minute when Hafiz Ibrahim slotted home from close range after a clever assist from Mamadou Diakhon. However, the spirited hosts fought back in the second half, equalizing through Cheikh N’Doye’s header from a corner in the 52nd minute.
Cannes’ dream of replicating their historic 1932 Coupe de France triumph was short-lived, as Reims regained the lead just six minutes later. Ibrahim turned provider this time, setting up Teddy Teuma, who fired home the decisive goal to seal the win for the Ligue 1 side.
Joseph Okumu, who missed Kenya’s recent 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against The Gambia and Gabon due to a reported “misunderstanding” as stated by Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy, has been a key player for Reims throughout the cup campaign. His solid defensive presence helped the team withstand late pressure from Cannes and see out the match.
Stade de Reims will now face French giants Paris Saint-Germain in the final, set for May 24, 2025, at the Stade de France. The clash presents a massive opportunity for Reims to lift their first Coupe de France trophy in history, as they prepare to take on a PSG side that has dominated French football in recent years.
