The Moussala Mahinamine pitch on the Senegalese-Malian border rocked to the rhythm of the grand finale of the Friendship and Integration Tournament on Monday, October 13. A sporting and civic event bringing together teams from Mali and villages bordering Senegal. Facing off against the formidable Diombon team, the soldiers of the 4th Company of the 34th Infantry Battalion of Kédougou, based in Moussala and commanded by Captain Diatté, won 2 goals to 1 at the end of a thrilling match.

A tournament to strengthen cross-border ties

Created in a spirit of fraternity and peace, the tournament aims to strengthen social cohesion between communities in border areas and promote sub-regional integration. This year's edition brought together teams from Senegalese and Malian localities, demonstrating a strong spirit of cooperation. The referees, who came from Kéniéba (Mali), also contributed to this cross-border dimension.*

A finale rich in symbols and emotions

Held under the high patronage of the Mayor of Saraya, Sambaly Biagui, the final brought together a large audience and local authorities, including MP Amdiata Diaby, the Mayor's chief of staff and several guests who came to celebrate the brotherhood between neighboring peoples.

In his speech, Captain Diatté praised the scope of this initiative: "It is a great pleasure for us to participate in this cross-border friendship tournament. It is a great opportunity to strengthen our ties with the population and to be closer to them. Security is a shared responsibility. I invite the population to collaborate with their army to better accomplish our mission."

The commitment of local authorities

For his part, MP Amdiata Diaby congratulated the organizers and praised the spirit of the tournament, which "symbolizes the understanding between border villages and the collaboration between the army and the population. Security begins with ourselves, citizens."

Initially planned under another sponsorship, the mayor of Saraya agreed to support the closing of the tournament, at the request of the organizers. In a powerful gesture, he offered two sets of jerseys, two balls, medals, a trophy, and an envelope of 100,000 CFA francs to encourage the young people and promote this wonderful initiative.

In conclusion, Mayor Sambaly Biagui stressed the need to strengthen cooperation between the population and the Defense and Security Forces (FDS): "The population must cooperate with the FDS and report any suspicious behavior. The border remains porous, but Moussala and Mahinamine form a single community. This tournament is proof of this and reassures us about the future of our cohesion."

This final, marked by the victory of the military, will remain etched in memories as a symbol of fraternity, peace and integration between the peoples on both sides of the Senegalese-Malian border.