This was perhaps not really the scenario envisaged, a few moments after the announcement of the draw for the round of 16 of the Coupe de France. By finding Paris Saint-Germain, title holder and reigning European champion, Paris FC had inherited the toughest opponent in the competition, and some already imagined it out of the race.
But now, thanks to a goal from Jonathan Ikoné, the feat was achieved on the lawn of the Parc des Princes, and the PFC offered itself the right to continue its journey in the Coupe de France. Started in the East with a 3-0 victory against Raon-l’Étape (Vosges), a Regional 1 team, the competition heads to Brittany this Wednesday (8:30 p.m.). The Parisians will return to Lorient, a team they know well and which they have beaten twice in 2025: in Ligue 2 first in March (3-2) then at the start of the season at the Jean-Bouin stadium (2-0).
While the dynamic has since been reversed and the Merlus have settled in eighth place in the Ligue 1 standings, Stéphane Gilli’s team can legitimately hope to qualify for the next round. To the point of making the trophy a goal of his season? “The priority is maintenance,” replies the coach. After 46 years spent in the lower levels… The objective is to stay and stabilize in Ligue 1. We know that it is very important for the club, the development and the project. » “Maintenance is more important,” confirms Nhoa Sangui, “But you have to do both! »
Italian recruits expected
The left-back, who experienced the joys of a final last season with Reims, remains determined. “Every person who plays a competition wants to win it, I think the team wants to do something great,” he insists. Even by beating Raon-l’Étape, we saw ourselves going as far as possible. The Cup was a goal from the moment we started playing it. »
“Competitors”, the Parisians and their coach also want to take advantage of this meeting to “confirm this good start to the year 2026” after the feat against PSG, a crucial victory against Nantes (1-2) and a good draw acquired at the end of the suspense against Marseille (2-2). “The objective, and I say it often, is to win all the matches so we will go to Lorient to try to win and qualify,” summarizes the technician.
Faced with an opponent who remains on a series of eleven matches without defeat – Championship and Coupe de France combined – Stéphane Gilli will be able to count on the reinforcements who have arrived in recent weeks. Having entered the game in Paris FC’s last three matches, Luca Koleosho could be called upon to start, just like Diego Coppola in the defense. “We know his qualities, his strengths and he will surely have a card to play,” described the coach about the latter. “Fit to be in the group”, striker Ciro Immobile should also be on the trip and will be able to closely observe his new teammates and their mentality.
“We don’t want to lose, every match we want to play, we want to win, that’s what makes us strong today and that’s what will allow us to go as far as possible,” assures Nhoa Sangui. Severely defeated by PSG last May while aiming for the holy grail, the international wants to believe it. “Since I reached this final, it has remained in the back of my mind.” He knows what remains to be done to get through one more round.
