Bout 1000 pipo, and more than 700 of dem na students wey still wear class uniform. Na dat crowd welcome first training session of Lions Indomptables for Abidjan, for Lycée Moderne de Cocody, before friendly match against Côte d’Ivoire.
Bryan Mbeumo and him teammates never even touch ball, public don already stand. For 90 minutes, national coach make him group repeat drills. Technical work, then 20-minute mini opposition wey keep everybody attention, students and curious pipo wey come enjoy show.
For improvised stand, one face wey Camerounais know well. Clinton Nje, 2017 Africa champion and now resident for Abidjan, come out to cheer him younger brothers. That kind detail talk something bigger about Camerounais diaspora for Côte d’Ivoire, always ready to mobilize when Lions pass that side. Honestly, e hard no see symbol. One generation of champions come greet the one wey carry jersey today.
This Friday, match eve, everything dey accelerate. Technical meeting at 10am, then press conference at 15:30 for Cocody Orange Village, where David Pagou and Bryan Mbeumo go answer journalists questions. Second training session dey planned for 18:00, still for Lycée Moderne de Cocody. First 15 minutes go open to press, as usual before this kind match. Na classic format, but e allow observers check team temperature before clash wey no dey miss flavor between two nations.
Signal clear: coaching crew want team ready, and visible before facing Éléphants. Lions seem don already win Ivorian public.
