Thierno Bocoum répond à Ousmane Sonko : «Le football n’est pas un test ADN»
The president of AGIR-Les Leaders, Thierno Bocoum, reacted to former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko's comments on the Senegal-France match. In an interview with RFI yesterday, Sonko stated: "Whoever wins, it is Africa that will have beaten Africa."
In a statement published on his social media, the politician called for moving beyond interpretations based on the players' ethnic origins or skin color. "Football is not a DNA test, but first and foremost a competition between national teams where each player represents the jersey he has freely chosen to defend," he argued.
He adds: "Senegal will face France in a match between the two nations. Respect to all those who have chosen their homeland and are ready to defend it, on a football field as in the most difficult moments of its history."
For Thierno Bocoum, shortcuts based on skin color or supposed origins distance us from historical, cultural, and human realities. "People have always met, mixed, and enriched each other throughout history," he says.
In his message, the former MP reiterated that Africa carries its challenges, ambitions, and responsibilities with its citizens, whether they hold dual nationality or not, while France defends its interests with its citizens, regardless of their origin. "This is the very logic of nation-states," he stated.
According to the leader of the Agir movement, the idea that, regardless of the outcome of a Senegal-France match, "Africa will have beaten Africa," denies the free choice of the players who decided to represent France, just as much as for those who chose an African national team. "These decisions deserve the same respect," he insisted.
He concluded his remarks by reaffirming his support for the Senegalese national team: "Long live Senegal."
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