They prepared themselves seriously, stopped the matches between friends for a few days, pay attention to their hygiene of life, to sleep, to food.
For Mohamed and Abdoulaye, both 23 years old, the CAN at Mantes-la-Jolie is well worth all the sacrifices.
"It's something fabulous," confides the first, who wears the colors of Morocco.
It is a competition which puts us in the conditions of the professional world, with its rigor and its requirements.
For the past few days, I have made sure to sleep well, not to gain weight, not to hurt myself.
I must be in great shape.
"
Beside him, Abdoulaye nods.
The young man of Senegalese origin will wear the Teranga jersey.
With a tension which begins to rise gently, as in 2019. “At the time, I had received calls from everywhere, from the family of France and Senegal too, it was madness.
Afterwards, you have to stay measured.
It must remain fun and it must not prevent us from sleeping.
It's just a hobby, ”says this young educational assistant.
To read also CAN of the districts: "It is something that one claimed for a long time in the cities"
Mohamed, he puts a little more stake there.
The family will be in the stands and this promising footballer knows that he will necessarily be observed.
“People rely on us a lot, we wear a jersey that is dear to them.
They call us first, gently pressurize us.
We must not miss it!
I'd rather miss a Bac than my penalty, ”laughs the young aeronautical graduate.
The town hall trusts them "completely"
“Obviously, it's a great event that highlights responsible youth,” says Mayor Raphaël Cognet (LR).
For our city, this is a new opportunity to improve our image abroad.
Those who do not know her realize that our young people are not savages!
More seriously, experience shows that they know how institutions work and know how to address the right people.
"
With his red jersey: Mohamed, the green jersey is worn by Abdoulaye.
Mehdi Gherdane
In recent weeks, the mayor has received the organizers of the CAN and his services have been in permanent contact with them ever since.
This partnership has resulted in the closing of Avenue Albert-Camus during games, with a barely visible municipal police force.
The Jean-Paul-David stadium is also "offered" to them, without consideration.
“We trust them completely.
They showed an exceptional sense of organization, almost professional.
This trust is mutual.
The organizers know that we did not want to do things for them, we showed them that we did not want to confiscate this event, that there was no hegemonic will on our part.
Very quickly, they were reassured.
"
MATCH CALENDAR
WEDNESDAY JUNE 30
DR Congo 2
-0 Ghana
Morocco 2-
3 Cameroon
Senegal 5
-2 Tunisia
Portugal 3-
4 World
Algeria 2
-1 Guinea Bissau
France 1 - 1 Comoros
Mali 0-0 Turkey
Ivory Coast 4
-2 Mauritania
FRIDAY JULY 2
-5pm: Mali-Mauritania;
Ivory Coast-Turkey
-18 hours: Algeria-Comoros;
Guinea-Bissau-France
-19 hours: Senegal-World;
Portugal-Tunisia
-20 hours: DR Congo-Cameroon;
Morocco-Ghana
SUNDAY JULY 4
-5pm: Algeria-France;
Guinea Bissau-Comoros
-18 hours: Mali-Ivory Coast;
Turkey-Mauritania
-19 hours: DR Congo-Morocco;
Ghana-Cameroon
-20 hours: Senegal-Portugal;
Tunisia-World
WEDNESDAY JULY 7, quarter-finals:
-5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
SATURDAY JULY 10, semi-finals
-6 p.m. and 7 p.m.
SUNDAY JULY 11, finals:
-4 p.m .: match for 3rd place.
- 6 p.m .: final.