« Être Algérien, ça se célèbre » : malgré l’élimination de la CAN, les supporters des Fennecs enflamment Barbès
On Saturday, Algeria was swept aside by Nigeria in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations. This didn't stop Algerians from celebrating in the Parisian neighborhood of Barbès… until tensions with the police quickly put an end to the festivities.
From Boulevard de La Chapelle (18th arrondissement of Paris), it's impossible to guess what's happening on the pitch 2,000 km away, in the Grand Stade de Marrakech, which is hosting the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final between Algeria and Nigeria this Saturday. As the Fennecs concede their second goal, in front of the Hbabna fast-food restaurant specializing in Algerian cuisine, supporters, draped in green and white flags, light flares.
“Just being Algerian is something to celebrate,” explains Ryan, 19, sitting on the sidewalk with his friends. From here, the small group can barely see a bit of the TV set up across the street on Rue des Islettes, inside the grill restaurant. No matter, they can watch on Enzo’s phone, the youngest of the group, and are mainly there for the atmosphere.
Around them, chants from supporters rise in Arabic. As the chances of equalizing fade, a few fireworks light up the street opposite the elevated metro line. Regularly, the procession has to move aside, willingly or not, to let the police through, who are keeping a watchful eye. Even more frequently, the famous "one, two, three, viva l'Algérie" is chanted.
It was for this impromptu celebration that Solange, a young woman in her fifties, made the trip from Beauvais (Oise). From her spot on the sidewalk, she can't see anything of the match, which is nearing its end. She's simply enjoying the atmosphere and the spirit of camaraderie "unique to football." "That's what I came for," she smiles as new flares illuminate the street with a bright red glow.
Minor tensions with the police
At 7 p.m., with the final whistle, Algeria's adventure in the continental tournament came to an end. Behind the disappointment, pride seemed to prevail among the supporters. "We came a long way," recalled Abdallah, a French-Algerian, whose team hadn't qualified for the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations since 2019. The young man praised the Fennecs' journey and acknowledged that Nigeria is "a great team."
For their part, Enzo and Ryan especially regret missing out on the semi-final against Morocco, "the best match" between "two great nations".
Shortly after the final whistle, while the riot police had been positioned along Boulevard la Chapelle for several minutes, the first insults were hurled, and a bottle was thrown. The police responded with a tear gas grenade. The crowd quickly dispersed and then regrouped in small clusters. Life quickly returned to normal in the neighborhood. It wasn't even 8 p.m., and the party was already over.
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Il est à noté que le peuple autochtone noir a été chassé vers le Sud
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