The Ivorian duel went in favour of youth. On Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at the end of a tense second leg semi-final, Ousmane Diomandé and Sporting CP secured their place in the Portuguese Cup final by eliminating Seko Fofana 's FC Porto.

The Lisbon wall held firm

After their 1-0 victory in the first leg, the Lisbon Lions traveled to the Estádio do Dragão with a valuable but fragile advantage. Facing them were the Portuguese Dragons – boasting a star-studded squad including Thiago Silva and Terem Moffi – who were eager to turn the tide in front of their home crowd.

Yet, despite the territorial dominance of the league leaders, the Lisbon defense never wavered. Ousmane Diomandé , a true colossus of Sporting's back line, delivered a monumental performance. Uncompromising in duels and commanding in the air, he extinguished the hopes of the opposing attackers.

Seko Fofana's entry was too late

For Porto, the scenario was frustrating. Former Al-Nassr midfield maestro Seko Fofana only entered the fray in the 80th minute . Too little time for the Ivorian midfielder to influence the course of a match that ultimately ended in a goalless draw ( 0-0 ).

This result qualifies Sporting CP on aggregate (1-0 aggregate score) and puts an end to FC Porto's double ambitions.

Towards an unprecedented final?

Sporting CP now awaits its opponent for the final of the trophy. The second semi-final will pit two underdogs against each other: Torreense and Fafe .

1. First leg result: 1-1
2. Return match: This Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 7:45 p.m.

Sporting will be the overwhelming favorites, but the Portuguese Cup always has its share of surprises.