Lens celebrations roll on as Coupe de France win sparks wild city parade | OneFootball

Lens marked their Coupe de France triumph over Nice 3-1 with celebrations that swept from the Stade de France into an all-night return to Bollaert, capped by a raucous city parade.

According to L'Équipe, even the club’s elders said they had never seen so many people on the streets, with estimates ranging from 60,000 to 100,000 and no firm figure.

The squad left Saint-Denis by coach, a 200-kilometre journey that felt endless for driver Gillou, then arrived at Bollaert at 4.09 where more than 15,000 fans were waiting. President Joseph Oughourlian, cup in hand, led the way with chief executive Benjamin Parrot, sporting director Jean-Louis Leca and head coach Pierre Sage.

Florian Sotoca stumbled early but, with Jonathan Gradit, drove the party, helped by performance lead Guillaume Ravé. Andrija Bulatovic waved a flare while Florian Thauvin, alongside Ruben Aguilar and Adrien Thomasson, climbed the Marek stand capo’s perch to whip up the noise.

Sage clambered towards the stands to salute the crowd. Leca, drained after Gervais Martel’s emotional embrace at the Stade de France, was soon back in mischief as staffer “Boubou” sparked a giant conga that even Oughourlian joined.

Sleep was scarce before a morning meal and an open-top bus ride from Bollaert. A 90-minute procession of flares and songs led to the town hall, where more than 30,000 gathered for “Les Corons” and a show-stealing dance from Malang Sarr amid pleas for him to stay.

Microphones passed from Leca and Mamadou Sangaré to Sage’s playful singalong and club great Eric Sikora, whose miner’s helmet toured heads, including Wesley Saïd’s. Gradit, Sotoca and a tearful Thauvin voiced their love, while Robin Risser admitted exhaustion and Odsonne Édouard doubted he would sleep soon.

This bond will endure, yet the summer market is set to reshape the group before next season’s Champions League. Parrot joked about buying a replica of the trophy, the Coupe de France will be displayed at the Louvre-Lens, and 22 May is now a city public holiday.

Source: L'Équipe