in Paris, an Ivory Coast-DRC semi-final driven by the fervor of the supporters – Libération

Story of an eventful evening in the Parisian district of Château-Rouge, meeting place for the semi-final of the African Cup of Nations, Wednesday evening, between Congolese supporters galvanized by the Leopards’ performance and electrified Ivorian supporters by their “miraculous” team.

On a Paris scale, the semi-final of the African Cup of Nations (CAN) between Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo can be summed up in two metro stops: Château-d’Eau (10th) against Château-Rouge (18th). The first is a Mecca of the Ivorian diaspora, host of the competition; the second from the Congolese diaspora.

In Château-Rouge, the streets are filled with supporters adorned in red and blue, the colors of the national flag. Everyone believes in their team’s qualification for the final. “2-0 for us,” predicts Zinga, 50 years old. His age almost corresponds to the drought period of the Congolese Leopards at the CAN. The country’s last victory dates back to 1974. Galvanized by the progress of its team, the “little Congo” district began to dream of an exploit against the organizing country, announced among the favorites.

Leaning on the counter of a local bar, Baba refuses this label and prefers not to “pay attention” to his country: “It’s the CAN of surprises,” the Ivorian supporter responds humbly. Born in Grand-Bassam, a town located 40 kilometers east of the capital, Abidjan, Baba lived there all his life before joining France a few months ago. He experiences the competition fully despite the distance that separates him from the fervor of the Ivorian streets. The match begins. Football fans hanging around the streets rush to enter the drinking establishments.

Sluggish first act

“The two teams do not dare to engage,” summarizes the match commentator on television. The meeting is close and reflects the difficulties of the two teams since the start of the CAN. The Elephants of Ivory Coast are “miracles”, according to followers. Manhandled in the group stage, the host country long believed to be eliminated from its own competition. Helped by a format which drafts the best third-place finishers from each group, they are now on the verge of the final. The start of the meeting takes away the smile from Baba. Only the appearance on TV of Ivorian legend Didier Drogba shakes him out of his pout.

The fifty-year-old still takes the time to respond to the provocations of his evening friends. “Chancel Mbemba is worthless,” he says insolently, about the captain and star defender of Congo, starter at Olympique de Marseille. “Mbemba is Beckenbauer [ancien défenseur et entraîneur allemand, mort début janvier, ndlr]», Retorts a supporter fully committed to the cause of the Congo Leopards. Just before half-time, the Ivorians launched the offensive in the Congolese camp. They touch the opening score, without managing to make it happen. Baba fears his team missed their chance.

The songs, dances and chatter wake up the neighborhood, numbed by a sluggish first act. In a bar on rue des Poissonniers, around forty Congolese are waiting for the resumption. All generations are represented. Just like the outfits. From the traditional dress to the flocked jersey to the flag that covers the entire body, Gédéon preferred the heart-shaped sticker in the colors of his country on the cheek. With his eyes glued to the flat screen hanging on the wall, the father complains at his team. The stakes seem too high for the Congolese players, who are starting to be overtaken by their evening opponent.

“The party is ruined”

Gideon demands change. Next to him, his teenage daughter, quieter, sees clearly that the Congo is suffering. Zinga feels that his team will eventually break down. He tries to put things into perspective: “If we lose, it’s not a big deal…” He barely has time to punctuate his sentence when Ivory Coast opens the scoring. Striker Sébastien Haller, with a cross volley, has just put a chill in the bar. “Oh, lord,” Gideon blurts. “We will equalize, I believe in it,” Zinga corrects himself. The chatter stops and gives way to tactical debates. The tone rises between Gédéon and a younger supporter.

As is often the case, the coach becomes responsible for all the problems. “The coach killed our team,” we hear. The Frenchman, Sébastien Desabre, takes his place. At the end of the match, the miracle expected by the Congolese did not occur. The television even starts to malfunction. The first supporters leave the neighborhood businesses to return home. The images of the incandescent atmosphere of the Alassane Ouattara stadium in Abidjan contrast with the room of this bar on rue des Poissonniers.

The end of the evening is not what imagined by the Congolese community of Château-Rouge. This evening, Château-d’Eau won. “We are ghosts,” rejoices Baba. The Cup must remain in West Africa.” The Ivorian supporter is already planning on the final which will pit the Ivorian Elephants against Nigeria, Sunday February 11. A good loser, Zinga congratulates the evening’s opponent then reasons with his compatriots: “The party is spoiled, but that doesn’t matter, it’s football.” Before meeting the gang at the same place in a few days. He intends to continue to encourage his team in their quest for third place in the CAN, Saturday at 9 p.m., when they will face South Africa.