The strasbourg – nice semifinal at the Meinau ended 2-0 on Tuesday night, with Elye Wahi delivering both goals to send Nice through to the Stade de France. The match turned after a video-confirmed penalty and a controlled finish from the visitors. Strasbourg pushed late, but Nice held firm under pressure.
Wahi makes the difference in Strasbourg – Nice
Nice struck first after Mohamed-Ali Cho drove into the right side of the box and was brought down by Ismaël Doukouré. Referee François Letexier confirmed the penalty with video assistance, and Wahi converted with his right foot to beat Mike Penders, who went the wrong way to his left.
Wahi later added a second goal, finishing powerfully to double the lead and put the semifinal beyond Strasbourg’s reach. In the closing stages, Strasbourg tried to raise the tempo, but Nice stayed organised and protected the advantage. A late shot from Julio Enciso drifted wide, while Mike Penders also denied Charles Vanhoutte with a strong save low to his left.
The strasbourg – nice contest had already shown signs of tension before the decisive moments. Hicham Boudaoui was booked for a foul on Diego Moreira, while Maxime received a yellow card for delaying a restart. Strasbourg also had chances through Enciso and Gessime Yassine, but nothing broke through.
Reactions from the pitch
There were visible signs of relief from the Nice camp as the final minutes ticked away at the Meinau. The decisive sequence came after Cho’s run and Doukouré’s challenge, which changed the rhythm of the match and opened the door for Wahi’s first goal. After that, Nice managed the game and repeatedly slowed Strasbourg’s attempts to build momentum.
Strasbourg’s frustration was clear as Maxime Dupé produced a remarkable reflex stop on a close-range header from Enciso, served by Sebastian Nanasi. That save kept the scoreline within reach for a brief spell, but Nice answered by tightening the space around the box and limiting clear openings.
What the scoreline means
The result ends Strasbourg’s run in this edition of the Coupe de France and sends Nice to the Stade de France. Strasbourg had previously exited the competition on 5 February 2025 at the same stage the season before, when Angers won 3-1 at the Meinau.
For Nice, the semifinal was shaped by efficiency rather than volume. Enciso had been a standout scorer for Strasbourg throughout the competition, but on this night the decisive figures were Wahi, Cho, and the defensive line in front of Mike Penders.
What comes next for Strasbourg – Nice
Nice now moves on to the final, while Strasbourg is left to turn quickly to the rest of its season. The strasbourg – nice semifinal offered a clear reminder of how quickly a tight knockout match can swing on one penalty, one finish, and one late save. With the Stade de France secured, Nice can now prepare for the next step.
