Medina Fall-Renaissance: A final that plunges residents near the Maniang Soumaré stadium into worry

The final of the Navétanes tournament in the North Zone of Thiès between ASC Médina Fall and ASC Renaissance was not limited to the sporting stakes. Around the Maniang Soumaré stadium, the match caused anxiety among local residents accustomed to fearing the disturbances that can occur before, during, or after some games.

This Sunday, from the early hours of the evening, residents of the Carrière and Dixième neighborhoods made their preparations. Several businesses closed their doors well before the end of the match, which was taking place at night. Jakarta drivers and delivery men preferred to park their motorcycles, while some families chose to stay home.

Other residents also moved their vehicles parked near the main roads leading to the stadium, fearing potential damage or clashes. In the streets, the atmosphere is marked more by vigilance than the usual excitement of a Navétanes final.

This situation stems from the tense atmosphere that sometimes accompanies matches involving certain teams from the Northern Zone. According to residents, incidents of violence, muggings, assaults, and public disturbances have been reported during previous matches. They specifically denounce the behavior of certain individuals who take advantage of the large crowds and confusion to attack passersby or damage the property of people unrelated to the competition.

For local residents, the problem therefore goes far beyond football. At every major match, they say they live in fear of seeing their neighborhood transformed into a zone of tension, especially when the fans leave the stadium.

Despite the presence of law enforcement to secure the match, residents of the surrounding neighborhoods believe that the security measures need to be reinforced, particularly after the matches, a period they consider the most sensitive.

They are therefore calling on the administrative and security authorities to take preventive measures in order to preserve the peace and quiet of local residents and to guarantee the safety of people and property.

For these residents, a Navétanes final should remain a sporting celebration. It shouldn't force shopkeepers to close their stores, transporters to immobilize their motorcycles, or families to barricade themselves in their homes for fear of potential unrest.