The Games of La Francophonie began with great fanfare in Kinshasa with the opening match between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Benin. Unfortunately, the Congolese U20 selection suffered a crushing 2-0 defeat against a well-prepared Beninese team.
In a renovated Martyrs Stadium, the U20 Leopards were overtaken by the Benin Cheetahs in the second half. The visitors managed to score in the 57th minute, putting pressure on the Congolese side who failed to react effectively. Benin then drove the point home in the final minutes of play, thus sealing the victory.
This defeat is a blow for the DRC which will now have to recover quickly in the rest of the competition. She will have to face Mali in her next match, a crucial meeting to hope to qualify for the final stages.
Despite this defeat, the Games of La Francophonie continue with many other sports and cultural disciplines on the program. Congolese athletes will have the opportunity to catch up and show their talent in the various events.
The Games of La Francophonie are a unique opportunity to celebrate the cultural and sporting diversity of French-speaking countries. They also make it possible to strengthen the links between the various participating nations and to promote the values of solidarity and exchange specific to La Francophonie.
All eyes are now on the next meeting of the DRC, where the team will have to redouble their efforts to hope for victory and to relaunch in the competition