Aulnay-sous-Bois (AFP)

Criticized during confinement for having participated in "wild" football matches, the young people from the neighborhoods showed during the "CAN" of Aulnay-sous-Bois, whose final was disputed on Wednesday, that organize a popular tournament was possible while insisting on sanitary rules.

At the entrance to the concrete stadium of the "Cité des 3000" in Aulnay-sous-Bois (Seine-Saint-Denis), Aboubakar, Mali jersey on his back, is intractable.

"No mask, no final", warns this volunteer from the Association for Young People through Integration and Solidarity (Ajis), which is organizing the second edition of the "CAN d'Aulnay", derived from the Coupe d Africa of Nations (CAN), renamed Coupe d'Aulnay des Nations.

First scheduled for Tuesday, the final between Mali and the "Rest of the World" team was finally contested 24 hours later due to bad weather.

"The kick-off is at 19h to finish the match before that of PSG", indicates Jeff Mathurin, president of Ajis and organizer of this CAN, whose closing ceremony will be shortened to allow everyone to sit in front a TV to follow the Champions League.

Title-holder, Mali won again (5-2), under the eyes of the player of the France team Moussa Sissoko, from Aulnay-sous-Bois, who gave the fictitious kickoff of the meeting.

"I was very keen to watch this game," said the Tottenham midfielder. "I grew up here. I played thousands of matches on this pitch, I was there every day when I was little", recalled the finalist of Euro 2016, whose parents are from Malian origin.

“In addition Mali is in the final so it's perfect!” Laughed Sissoko, who has 62 caps with the Blues.

- 15,000 masks distributed -

Since July 23, sixteen teams, made up of seven players representing African countries, have faced each other on the field nicknamed "Le Béton", where bleachers with a capacity of 600 places have been installed to structure the event.

"This year, we are fortunate to have the support of the city, which accompanies us in terms of logistics and health", specifies Jeff Mathurin.

"We did everything to organize this CAN in the best possible conditions, taking into account the health risks," insists the volunteer, who ensures that the association distributed 15,000 masks over the course of the competition.

Hydroalcoholic gel was also available to the thousand spectators present and prevention messages from the Ministry of Health were regularly broadcast on the stadium's sound systems.

"It's normal, we have no choice if we want this kind of event to be maintained, underlines Fathia, supporter of Morocco who came to support the + Rest of the world + team. It's important for us, especially after the complicated months we have just passed. "

In the stands, from where fireworks and smoke emerge, the security service takes back the recalcitrant in the mask, often without success. Masks are more often placed on the chin than on the mouth.

“Unfortunately, we cannot be behind each youngster to check if he is following the instructions,” regrets Jeff Mathurin, seeing several masks under his chins.

- "Nothing to do with wild matches" -

"On the whole, the sanitary measures are respected", notes Youssouf Kamara, referent "CAN" of the municipality, which assures that "it has nothing to do with wild matches".

These "illegal" meetings during confinement and the period of deconfinement that followed had brought together several hundred people in Strasbourg, in the Paris region and in the Landes in particular, where two Ligue 1 players had participated in May.

"This event works and young people are asking", recognizes the event service of Aulnay-sous-Bois, "a city of football" according to Brandon Musungu, Congolese of origin who wears the jersey of the "Rest of the world".

"This team proves that Aulnay is an open city, united, regardless of nationality. It is a source of pride", appreciates the defender after the meeting, where he teamed up with Algerians, Beninese and Ivorians.

"But sorry I have to go now, I will miss the start of the PSG match otherwise", he apologizes, ready to play his second match of the day, this time in the shoes of a supporter .

© 2020 AFP