Harambee Stars defender Joseph Okumu featured in the entire game as Reims beat fourth-division side Cannes 2-1 to set up a French Cup final meeting with holders Paris Saint-Germain.
Reims took a 14th-minute lead when Mamadou Diakhon powered to the byline and pulled the ball back for his fellow 19-year-old Hafiz Ibrahim to turn the ball into an empty net.
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Cannes pushed forward in search of an equaliser but almost fell two goals down before the half-hour mark when Reims countered from a corner, but Keito Nakamura could only drag his shot narrowly wide.
The hosts were dreaming of the final, though, when captain Cheikh N’Doye levelled seven minutes after halftime. The 39-year-old former Senegal midfielder rose highest at the back post to head home Cedric Goncalves’ corner.
But Reims restored their advantage before the hour mark, Ibrahim teeing up substitute Teddy Teuma to score. Cannes piled on the pressure, but Reims held on to keep their hopes of a third French Cup title, and first since 1958, alive.
They will face PSG, who came from two goals down to defeat second-tier Dunkerque 4-2 on Tuesday, at the Stade de France on May 24.
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