Cairo (AFP)
From Cairo to Algiers, via Paris, Marseille or Montreal, the same scenes of jubilation, the same hopes: Algeria, qualified for the final of the CAN-2019, dreams of offering a second African star to its supporters, almost 30 years after the only coronation of its history.
The majestic free-kick from Riyad Mahrez, scored Sunday in the final seconds of the semifinal against Nigeria (2-1), provoked a mad wave of joy, which shone as well in the land of "Fennecs" that of the diaspora.
The supporters of the "Fennecs" dream now to see this parenthesis enchanted, and unexpected before the start of the flagship competition of African football, ending with a happy exclamation point on Friday. While an unprecedented protest movement has been punctuating the lives of Algerians since February ...
At the July 5 stadium in Algiers where was broadcast on giant screens, the enclosure was packed in an incandescent atmosphere, between smoke, fireworks, and smartphones lights turned on until the end of the night.
In France, thousands of people, binational or simple supporters of the "Fennecs", have again come out on the streets with flags to celebrate the third qualification in the final CAN in the history of the selection.
Scenes of popular jubilation, from the Old Port of Marseille to the Champs-Elysees of Paris, reminiscent of the victory of the French team in the World Cup, there is almost a year to the day!
- Mahrez, all-terrain hero -
But as after qualifying in the semifinal on Thursday, multiple overflows however tarnished the evening. In Algeria, five people, including at least three teenagers, died in the night in a car accident, the official APS news agency reported on Monday.
In France, a total of 282 people were arrested in the evening of Sunday, also marked by the festivities of July 14, announced Monday the Ministry of the Interior, despite calls for calm Algerian players, mostly born in France. France (14 of 23).
In a tweet, an elected member of the National Rally had even wished before the match the victory of Nigeria: "To prevent the continuation of violence and looting, to avoid the tide of Algerian flags, to preserve our national holiday, do not wait for anything (Christophe) Castaner, trust the 11 Nigerian players! "
"The free kick was for you, we are together," replied Riyad Mahrez on the social network a few hours later, accompanying his missive with two Algerian and French flags, side by side. A message "like" as massively on the canvas, as the "replay" of the striking shot of the native of Sarcelles.
"Heroic", even titled the French daily El Watan in its edition of the day, putting the Algerian captain in the spotlight on his Une. "Our leader takes us to this final and we are all happy," again paid tribute to teammate Aïssa Mandi at the microphone of beIN Sports.
- "We will do the maximum" -
Another new popular hero: Djamel Belmadi. Subject of all praise with this qualification in the final, the first since 1990 won at home, the coach of the "Desert Warriors" must now live to the rhythm of "Belmadi president".
A remarkable feat, in a context of "dégagisme" affecting the main dignitaries of the regime whose name begins with a "B", like the interim President Abdelkader Bensalah and Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui.
"To the Algerian people, I mean that I am not a politician, not a miracle worker, not a wizard, but that we will fight as we have fought so far. We will do the maximum, "he said in his usual measured tone.
To try to win Friday against Senegal, Belmadi and his men can count on a new green tide in Cairo.
In addition to the dozen commercial flights already mobilized for the semi-final, the Ministry of Defense plans to make six additional military transport aircraft available to Algerian supporters. Eighth sign that it is more than just a football game ...
© 2019 AFP