The hardest part is yet to come. After its great victory in the quarter-finals of the U20 World Cup against Norway on the night of Sunday to Monday (1-2), the France team is getting closer to final victory. Before that, we will have to get rid of Morocco, the revelation of this competition, during a promising semi-final (Wednesday, 10 p.m.).
If everything seems to be going well, the Bleuets are nevertheless facing bad news. Especially Bernard Diomède, the coach, who will once again have to do without one of his players for the rest of the competition because he has been recalled by his club.
The announcement was made by The Parisian in the evening yesterday. The hero of the quarter-final Saïmon Bouabré, author of a double, will return to Saudi Arabia. The 19-year-old attacking midfielder, who arrived after the group stage, was forced to join his team Neom SC after only two games played.
“ Making a semi-final with or without him, that changes things”
Here is what Bernard Diomède said a few minutes before hearing the bad news. Even if, he admits, he did not
“ never wanted or hoped to have him for the final because it is his club which has priority. But for the semi-final…”
The adventure was therefore only short-lived for Saïmon Bouabré since the Saudi Pro League team, coached by Christophe Galtier, did not agree to release their player outside the dates of the official FIFA calendar.
The former Monegasque thus joined the group in Chile on the sidelines of the round of 16 against Japan (0-1, after extra time) and played only 157 minutes, or only two matches as a starter. A successful adventure to say the least, with two goals on the clock.
