The speakers have been pushed to the limit, young people from the neighborhood hit a few balls which hit against the high fences of the Square Léon ground, located in the heart of the 18th arrondissement of Paris.
To the rhythm of rap some dance, laugh, smoke.
"
We are late, as usual,
" jokes Mamoudou, 25, a native of the neighborhood and the initiative of the event.
The headset of his walkie-talkie firmly in his ear, he is about to join the field to film the match.
Thirty minutes late, the players enter the scene.
After an hour of play, Tunisia is largely leading.
The Guineans come out crestfallen.
The second game is eagerly awaited.
Around the small stadium, the atmosphere is electric.
Supporters proudly display the flag of their favorite country.
Algerians and Moroccans stand ready.
Green jersey for some, red for others.
They were created especially for the event by Maison Château-Rouge, one of the - local - sponsors of the African Cup of Nations.
Finally, the players enter.
Green and red smoke bombs invade the city-stadium.
A small photo of the team and the match can begin.
The Algerian and Moroccan teams are ready to enter the arena.
Amelie Com
Behind the high railings, spectators scramble every square centimeter to catch a glimpse of what is happening.
"
There are a lot more Algerians, but that's normal, in Barbès we are at home
", says Cebos smiling.
Official photographer of the event, he has been documenting the neighborhood for years.
At 32,
Canon
in hand, he knows everyone.
His favorite country is Mali, but tonight he is supporting Morocco “
even if they are too technical and they make too many movies
”.
On the side, Aziz and Nabil follow everything that happens.
They are sure, Algeria will win.
This field is an arena
The stadium was redone this year.
"
They put sand, if they fall, they get burned,
" says Mamoudou.
"
It's an arena and they are the gladiators, we observe in height compared to the ground and there is a fence all around
" describes Cebos.
Here street football reigns supreme.
Far from Mamoudou the idea of creating an official competition.
“
Here we do it our way
“, he says.
In their own way, that is to say in teams of five and on a small field.
One evening in Ramadan, with a few friends, the young man imagines gathering around the Square Léon stadium.
The idea is to create a competition, like the African Cup of Nations, which would bring together all the diasporas around a landmark, their own: the Square Léon pitch.
The so-called "Boss" can't stop smiling.
He succeeded in his bet, to gather around a sport.
Mamoudou has been bringing the neighborhood together for 3 years around the Square Léon site (Paris).
Amelie Com
At halftime, Algeria leads 8-2.
Morocco is in serious danger of leaving the competition.
In the square, people chant the eternal “
one, two, three, long live Algeria
”.
Outside the field, it is difficult to see the match behind the spectators crowded to the gates.
A Moroccan supporter gets angry: “
when is there a penalty?!
» Final whistle.
The rockets are lit, the flags flutter between the hands of the supporters.
Morocco bows against Algeria.
Dumbfounded, the losers leave the field.
The spectators invade it.
Time to congratulate the players and it's already time to go home.
The show is over, at 10 p.m. the square closes its doors.
