With less than a week remaining before the kickoff of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (June 21 – July 19), excitement for the continent’s premier football tournament is spreading far beyond Africa. In France, amateur tournaments have been organized over several weeks, each representing a different African nation. Beginning in Créteil, the competition has expanded to other neighborhoods in Paris, including Évry, as well as across the wider Île-de-France region, all set within a festive and enthusiastic atmosphere.
These amateur competitions feature local residents forming teams that represent various nationalities, such as Algeria, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Mali, and Senegal. Matches are structured to mirror official tournament formats, starting with a group stage followed by knockout rounds. The events go beyond just the games themselves, incorporating team photos, interviews, and other activities that recreate the atmosphere of the Africa Cup of Nations, giving participants and spectators a taste of the excitement surrounding the main event.
The initiative has also garnered support from professional footballers, with stars like Karim Benzema and Didier Drogba sending videos and messages via social media to encourage the participants. Their involvement has added prestige to the amateur tournament and further energized the communities taking part, highlighting the unifying power of football across different levels of the sport.
This grassroots celebration of African football not only builds anticipation for the AFCON but also strengthens connections within the diaspora, allowing fans to engage with their national teams in a hands-on, participatory way. As the countdown to June 21 continues, these amateur tournaments serve as a lively prelude to the main competition in Egypt, demonstrating how football transcends borders and brings communities together in celebration of the game.
