Battle for the CEFL crown: Broncos vs. Black Panthers in the final!

Battle for the CEFL crown: Broncos vs. Black Panthers in the final!

Next Saturday, June 21, 2025, it's finally time again: pure excitement in American football! The CEFL final, also known as CEFL Bowl XIX, will take place at the *Neues Stadion Obere Au* in Chur. At 6 p.m. the *Calanda Broncos* from Switzerland and the *Thonon Black Panthers* from France face each other. Both teams have enjoyed great success in their leagues and are still undefeated this season. This promises to be an exciting duel. The gates will open for fans at 4:30 p.m., followed by a supporting program with music and an entry ceremony for the teams at 5:45 p.m.

The two teams prevailed impressively in the playoffs. The Black Panthers showed their strength with a clear 41:17 win against the Badalona Dracs in the quarter-finals and a narrow 28:26 victory over Carlstad in the semi-finals. The Broncos, on the other hand, gave the Kragujevac Wild Boars no chance and won 49-0 before beating Warsaw 17-7 in the semifinals. However, both teams have to cope with the increased pressure of the final round, as they remained without a title in the last two CEFL finals: the Black Panthers had to admit defeat against Paris in 2023, while the Broncos also lost against the Danube Dragons in 2023.

Historic duel in Chur

This CEFL Bowl is not only a repeat of the duel between the Broncos and the Black Panthers, but also a historic clash. The Black Panthers have beaten the Broncos twice in the past: 41:20 in 2009 and 38:35 in 2023. Still, the Broncos are determined to secure their first CEFL title since 2012 and emerge from the shadows of two lost Finals (2019, 2023).

The coaches of the two teams, Geoff Buffum for the Broncos and Larry Legault for the Black Panthers, know each other well. Their past duels promise a high-level tactical battle. The Broncos have a strong defense, but they will have to contend with the Black Panthers' energetic offenses, including quarterback Jose Tabora and tight end Odell Turnbull. Among the key players on the Broncos' side, Max Gray and Andre Blackett stand out and are expected to score crucial points.

CEFL in transition

A look back at the development of the Central European Football League (CEFL) shows how the competition has established itself since its founding in 2008. The CEFL has now developed into one of the most important American football competitions in Europe. Starting with the first games between teams from Serbia and Slovenia, the league has changed over the years with different participants from several countries and produced numerous exciting duels. Those who want to experience the final live can secure tickets via Eventfrog so as not to miss the kickoff.

The tension is rising - will the Calanda Broncos finally win the title this evening or will they have to admit defeat to the Black Panthers again? One thing is certain: spectators can look forward to an exciting and hard-fought finale.