CEFL Championship semifinals are featuring four highest-ranked tournament contestants who are all reigning national champions. Duelists from both games have played each other in the past three seasons, making the semifinals a kind of rematches. It will be an opportunity for all of them to gauge their progress on the international scene.

CEFL Championship, Semifinal Game 1
Saturday, 6 June, 16:00 CET
Calanda Broncos – Warsaw Eagles
Live stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drHjXDQwFPg

The first game on the daily program will replicate one of last-season’s semifinals. Calanda Broncos will again welcome Warsaw Eagles to decide the early finalist. Last year the Swiss got the upper hand in a defensive game that went to their favor, 17-7. The Polish contender will now want to climb over the same hurdle. At the same time the Broncos have their sights set on the trophy after flunking three times in the past.

Calanda Broncos have doubled-up on Badalona Dracs in the second round of the CEFL Champonship, 48-24. Their running game was impressive, posting 7 touchdowns on the day. Their tight end Thomas Smith was the most productive with 3 scores and running back Noah Bachofen added 2 more. Quarterback Robin Sennrich and tailback Amel Adjovi were good for one each.

The Swiss league is not posing any problems for the Broncos either. Before the last 2 games to play there, the team is firmly in the second spot with a 7-1 record. The national semifinals are within reach and the Broncos’ participation is par for the course.

Warsaw Eagles exhibited their own talent in the second round, beating Bristol Aztecs 35-21. Their signal caller Vidal Woodruff connected with 3 different receivers on scoring plays. Krzysztof Nosow, Jakub Sema and Bruno Waszkiewicz snagged those passes. Their French running back Meril Zéro had an early impact scoring two opening touchdowns for his team.

With a 7-0 record in the Polish championship, the Eagles are in the highest spot. Their last meeting will be against Silesia Rebels who are also undefeated, though with 2 fewer games played. This clash will probably decide which one of them will enter the quarterfinals from the top position.

CEFL Championship, Semifinal Game 2
Saturday, 6 June, 19:00 CET
Thonon Black Panthers – Guelfi Firenze
Live stream: https://fffa.tv/sportitemset/6a1eafeb8a4eb76c7411fa31

The evening semifinal game is a contest between opponents who have played each other in the second round of 2023. Back then Guelfi Firenze were the host, but Thonon Black Panthers had an extraordinary season playing only away games. In the end, the French team took home the win 27-14. It might be even harder this time for the Italians, playing in hostile territory versus the standing champions from CEFL Bowl XIX.

Thonon Black Panthers were spectacular in the second round, ousting Manchester Titans 55-8. Their dual-threat offensive leader Mateo Renteria rushed one ball to the house and aired 4 more, all to different targets: Justin Marcus, Mehdy Radeau, Amin Ibrahim and Fodé Drame. The defense did its part too with not one, but two players, Ryan Jacquin and Adel Bafdile scoring on intercepted passes.

The French championship has advanced to the semifinals as well and the Black Panthers will host one of them over there too. Their challengers are Marseille Blue Stars, who play in a lateral group and have to wait for the postseason to try themselves against the top class rivals from the other conference.

The Guelfi have done great in the quarterfinal round against the newcomer, Belgrade Blue Dragons. Although the game started with a touchdown against them, they picked up the pace in the second quarter and ended the case long before the final whistle, 55-7. Andrea Fimiani scored five passing touchdowns and one over the ground, while Eystin Salum’s two catches and one toss ended up in the end zone.

For the Florentines, 2026 was another successful national championship, where they were unbeaten in the regular part of the season. Their record was 8-0, same as last year, when they won the whole thing. Now they wait for their semifinal foes, once the Italian league wild-card round finishes.