You used to hear it several times on the 100% Stade Lavallois program on France Bleu Mayenne last season. Paul Lopez, a former sports journalist for Courrier de la Mayenne, is currently following the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon. An incredible experience as a photographer, which he shares with a journalist friend Arnaud Leyer. The duo take a huge foothold in this African adventure. “It’s a huge kiff. The opening match between Cameroon and Burkina Faso was extraordinary in the stands. The pre-match ceremony was really successful, very beautiful. Here there is a lot of envy on the part of everyone. We are young journalists. I have not yet had the opportunity to cover major competitions like the Champions League or the Euro, but here we rub shoulders with players of international level, so obviously it’s something“says Paul Lopez.
The joys of the health crisis
He observes the matches at the edge of the field, as he used to do at the Francis Le Basser stadium. His playmate positions himself in the press gallery. Paul Lopez and Arnaud Leyer then sell their papers and photos to French-speaking media. An immersion in Cameroon which is not without its share of small galleys, and health protocol. “There is a small lack of general organization and gradually, the organizers of the CAN added things … PCR tests with the list of fifty centers to be tested. We went to five of them and none was able to do a PCR for us. Except that in the end, we didn’t even need a test to enter the stadium in question. There was no one to check. Otherwise one day we checked our bags once, but in another stadium, we had to show seven times (smile). So it’s a lot of little hassles but in fact, as you go, you get used to it. Cameroon is a rather welcoming country with nice people“observes Paul Lopez.
A very sporty world tour!
The journalist duo created an Instagram account to tell the story of the football competition in pictures (subscribe to _arnopolo_). Paul Lopez will certainly cross paths with several players from Mayenne or who have passed through our department. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang obviously, the Gabon striker, a native of Laval but also Saïd Bakari, former ES Bonchamp player and Comorian international. He will set off again to travel the planet after February 6 and the end of the Africa Cup of Nations. They plan to cover the Tour of Rwanda in cycling and visit Kenya. Then these longtime friends will fly to South America.