While waiting for the official opening ceremony scheduled for Friday evening, at the Stade des Martyrs, the 9th Games of La Francophonie have already well and truly started since Thursday, in Kinshasa, on all the chosen sites. And among the first sporting encounters, the one between the DRC and the Benin football team left a bitter taste for Congolese supporters.
In a lively encounter on the lawn of the newly renovated Stade Raphaël, the U20 Leopards of the DRC failed to live up to their status as host country. Faced with a Beninese team in great shape, the Congolese lost 2-0.
After a rather lackluster first half, it was the visitors who found the fault in the second half, scoring the first goal in the 57th minute. Despite the Leopards’ efforts to come back, Benin drove home the point in the final moments of the match, sealing victory with a second goal.
This defeat is a blow for the DRC, which thus loses important points in its first match. The team now finds itself in the obligation to get up against Mali during the next meeting, scheduled for Sunday, July 30.
However, we must not forget that in this kind of competition, everything can still change. The Games of La Francophonie are an opportunity for young athletes from different French-speaking nations to surpass themselves and proudly represent their country. And despite this first defeat, the Leopards U20 still have every chance of catching up and performing well in the next matches.
It is important to emphasize that the Games of La Francophonie are not limited solely to football. This multifaceted competition also includes other sports disciplines, such as athletics, swimming, basketball, wrestling, judo and many others. The events take place at different sites in the city of Kinshasa, offering spectators the opportunity to discover various disciplines and support the athletes in their quest for medals.
In short, despite this first defeat of the DRC in football, the games of La Francophonie continue to be in full swing in Kinshasa. The next few days still promise great sporting encounters and moments of intense competition. It will be necessary to closely follow the performances of the Congolese athletes, who will be keen to proudly defend the colors of their country in front of their public