Mamadou Sangaré at centre of Bollaert celebrations as Lens reach historic final

Mamadou Sangaré was at the heart of jubilant scenes at Bollaert as Lens secured their place in the Coupe de France final, sparking a rare pitch invasion and emotional celebrations with supporters.

Following a composed semi-final victory over Toulouse, the atmosphere inside the stadium quickly turned euphoric.

For the first time since Lens earned promotion to Ligue 1 in 2009, fans flooded onto the pitch, eager to share the moment with their players.

Sangaré found himself swept up in the chaos and joy as supporters rushed toward him at the final whistle.

The midfielder was lifted and carried toward the dressing room, embracing the spontaneous connection with the crowd.

Later, he reflected on the experience through social media, writing: “I’m alive,” he smiled on his social media. ” But what a thrill, this feeling with them! “

The celebrations extended across the squad, with Sangaré encouraging his teammates to join him in acknowledging the supporters.

Players gathered in front of the stands, soaking in the significance of the moment with those who had filled the stadium.

Head coach Pierre Sage, watching the scenes unfold, reacted with a mixture of amusement and restraint. In footage shared online, he joked: “Stay a footballer, it’s better. “

However, speaking more seriously afterwards, he admitted the disruption slightly tempered his enjoyment of the occasion.

“I must admit that the fact it was delayed a bit, that the crowd prevented us from doing the lap of honor, brought my joy down a little. ” he said during the post-match press conference.

Sangaré continued to share his excitement after the match, posting another message to supporters: “We’re in the final!! See you at the Stade de France.

It’s amazing, thank you Lens!” By the following morning, he highlighted the scale of the achievement by sharing the front page of L’Équipe, where he featured prominently.

Lens will now prepare for their first Coupe de France final appearance since 1998, marking a significant milestone in what is already a memorable season.

The occasion carries added weight as it coincides with the club’s 120th anniversary, giving supporters even more reason to celebrate a night that will long be remembered at Bollaert.

Em𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒆́𝒔 par la foule 👏#FiersDEtreLensois #RCLTFC #FinaleCDF pic.twitter.com/Ju3payJY0r

— Racing Club de Lens (@RCLens) April 21, 2026