Barely out of college, the young people from ES Guyancourt hurry to go to the clubhouse, located a few steps from the Yvelin club’s synthetic pitch. Match at 5 p.m. required. In a small room, decorated with shelves overflowing with regional trophies, the first supporters sit down one after the other in front of the television.
“We just want Ibrahim to come back, otherwise I’ll call their coach,” laughs Ludovic Menard, youth category educator for 25 years but also close friend of the father of the PSG titi, Ibrahim Mbaye, who started on the bench in the CAN quarter-final against Mali (1-0). “He had something extra despite his age. He is a boy who has always been serious. His work paid off even if we didn’t see him reaching that high,” he continues.
On the wall, posters stating “Proud to be a supporter of Ibrahim Mbaye. Es Guyancourt, where it all began” are amazed by some club volunteers. “Ibrahim is the club’s kid, we are very proud of him.”
A serious and exemplary boy
Each image of him on the screen provides a thrill in the small room of the gymnasium, converted into a fan zone for the occasion. Here the superstar is neither captain Sadio Mané nor Bayern striker Nicolas Jackson, we only have eyes for the young PSG striker, who played for the local club between 2013 and 2015 before joining FC Versailles then the capital club in 2018.
The man who signed his first professional contract less than a year ago is already the idol of the city’s young people. “He’s the best, he goes too fast,” says Djibril, one of the 800 members of ES Guyancourt, impatient to see his hero take to the pitch. “We would all like to have the same career as him,” concludes the young man, proudly wearing the Teranga Lions jersey.
For Yannick Mesnige, technical coordinator of ES Guyancourt, at only 17 years old, Ibrahim Mbaye has had an exemplary career. “It’s impressive to see him there. He’s a source of pride and a great kid. He will progress further because he is a hard worker.” Despite his meteoric rise, the native of Trappes continues to maintain a special link with his first football club. “He came to do a surprise signing session during the last lottery, he was embarrassed to see all the young people asking for autographs,” says Ludovic Menard.
“I’m Malian but I want to see him enter the field”
Entering in the 75th minute, Ibrahim Mbaye replaced Iliman Ndiaye. Enough to make the young footballers of ES Guyancourt more attentive. Since the start of the competition, the Senegalese quickly showed his coach Pape Thiaw that he could count on him. His goal scored in the round of 16 against Sudan (3-1), which made him become the youngest scorer in the history of the CAN in the 21st century, demonstrates this.
In front of the match, Solo, 35, a Mali supporter, endures the uproar of the entire room. “Out with Mali!” », repeat the young people of the club, bursting with laughter. The U13 coach, who also puts on his crampons at the weekend with the veterans, recognizes it: “I’m Malian but I would like him to come home and make us proud. The CAN is a family, we tease each other and we vibe together,” he says.
Keep your feet on the ground
“We know perfectly well that we must not put it into their heads that they will end up like him,” explains Yannick Mesnige, who attended the first matches of the European champion. “They need to understand that there are few elected officials in the world of football. “I prefer to say that he’s a city boy than a club guy,” he adds.
Guy Galanti, president for more than 15 years, is less nuanced. In a speech to young graduates, he reminds us that the only way to get there is to believe in it and of course “to work well at school”.
After an electric end to the match, the Senegalese confirmed their ticket for the last four of the competition. A shot of happiness for the young people of ES Guyancourt, who dream of seeing Mbaye bring the CAN back to Yvelines.
