AS Gosier Shines with Penalty Shootout Win; Key 8th Round Coupe de France Matches Conclude

The 8th round of the 2025/26 Coupe de France concluded with notable victories and eliminations as teams battled to secure a spot in the 32nd finals. Guadeloupe's AS Gosier produced a remarkable upset over National 3 side CMS Oissel in a penalty shootout (2-2, 4-2 penalties). Claudio Beauvue, 37, scored a late equalizer via penalty in the 85th minute, exemplifying his enduring passion for football since returning from Olympique Lyonnais this year. This success places AS Gosier alongside top-tier clubs in the next round, while other overseas teams such as Kourou, Saint-Pauloise, and Espoir de Sainte-Luce faced defeats.

Union Foot Touraine (UFT), a newly merged club from Tours FC and Joué-les-Tours, faced Ligue 2 leaders Troyes in a competitive match at Stade de la Vallée du Cher but were eliminated 2-0. Troyes opened scoring in the 23rd minute through Sankhoun Diawara from a free kick and secured victory with a substitute's goal by Matthys Detourbet in the 68th. Despite the loss, UFT's coach Hervé Loubat expressed pride mixed with frustration over avoidable errors, and player Négo Ekofo highlighted the team's strong showing, noting the deciding factor was Troyes' clinical finishing amid a lively crowd of 6,500 spectators.

US Orléans (USO) also advanced to the 32nd finals after a last-minute comeback against Union St Jean, with El Khoumisti and Bozkurt scoring in the 81st and 85th minutes respectively. The draw for the 32nd finals — marking the entry of Ligue 1 teams — will happen in Paris on December 1. Other regional results included Blois progressing through penalties against Romorantin and Châteauroux being knocked out by Fontenay.

These matches reflect the dynamic nature of the Coupe de France, where lower-division and overseas clubs strive to challenge professional teams, underscoring football's widespread appeal in France and its territories.