This time, the party won’t be without them. And it started this Monday in front of the spectators at the Azur Arena in Antibes won over by the performance of the French players who have waited for this moment for 20 years. Undefeated during the group stage, the Blues continued their success on Monday against Morocco (87-60), at the end of a decisive match that was easily controlled.
A victory which allows them to win the last Golden ticket for the Paris Games. A historic moment for Audrey Cayol’s partners who have not participated in the Paralympic tournament since Athens in 2004.
“I am very proud to represent France after 20 years of absence. We really worked for years to get here today,” appreciated the captain at the final whistle. A captain all the more moved by the adventure in Greece 20 years ago where the Blues finished 11th. “It’s pure happiness, we started from very far away and we managed to bring together something very great humanly and sportingly,” added coach Franck Bornerand, who arrived at the Blues bedside eight months ago with Steven Caine afterwards. a disappointing 9th place at the World Championships.
” It is a dream. We have difficulty realizing that we are qualified, we will already benefit, but we will be there at the Games, we are going there to win”
Franck Bornerand, coach of the Blues
Very aggressive in defense, its players quickly disrupted the Moroccans, who had little success in shooting (25/60) and perfectly mastered their offensives to break away in the first quarter, like this three-point shot in the buzzer from Nicolas Jouanserre (25-10). Author of 21 points, the native of Pau, as during the group stage, guided his partners to victory. Around Sofyane Mehiaoui, omnipresent, the Blues then unfolded in the second quarter to take the lead (49-26). The drop in speed in the third (65-44) and the 27 points at the end of the match from Zouhair Challat did not change anything. The Blues could take advantage.
“No one expected us at this level, we are super proud. We couldn’t dream of better,” appreciated Blues leader Sofyane Mehiaoui, moved after the match.
Like the Blues, Canada, the Netherlands and Germany obtained their golden ticket. They join Great Britain, Spain, the United States and Australia, already qualified for this 8-team Paralympic tournament. At the Bercy Arena, from August 27 to September 7, the French, 7th in the European Championships, will now have the ambition to win a third Paralympic medal after gold in 1984 and the two bronze medals in 1976 and 1988 “It’s a dream,” continued Franck Bornerand. We have difficulty realizing that we are qualified, we will already benefit, but we will be there at the Games, we are going there to win. » This time, there are only 135 days to wait.
The French women’s wheelchair basketball team will try to imitate the Blues and win their ticket to Paris during the women’s TQP, from April 17 to 20 in Japan.