While waiting for the official opening ceremony scheduled for Friday evening at the Stade des Martyrs, the IX Games of La Francophonie have already well and truly started since Thursday in Kinshasa, and the first competitions have already delivered their verdict. As part of the football tournament, DR Congo, represented by its under-20 team, met Benin and unfortunately lost 2-0.
The match took place at the Stade Raphaël, completely renovated for the occasion, but the U20 Leopards failed to shine. After a lackluster first half, the Benin Cheetahs took the lead in the second half with hard-hitting attacks and opened the scoring in the 57th minute. Despite all their efforts, the young Congolese failed to react and conceded a second goal in the last quarter of an hour.
It’s a defeat that costs DR Congo dearly in this competition and puts it in a delicate position for the future. She will have to get up during her next meeting, scheduled for Sunday, July 30, against Mali.
This defeat is a disappointment for the Congolese supporters, but it is important to underline that the Games of La Francophonie have only just begun and that many exciting competitions will take place in the days to come. The games are a moment of gathering and sharing for the French-speaking countries, and the DR Congo has the opportunity to show all its potential and to shine in the various disciplines offered.
Hoping that the next matches of the Congolese selection will be more fruitful, the supporters remain confident and continue to support their team with fervor. Sport is also sometimes victory, sometimes defeat, but the main thing is to give the best of yourself on the field and to defend the colors of your country with pride.
The Games of La Francophonie continue to offer many exciting competitions and moments of sharing between the participating countries