Gonfreville-l’Orcher (France), August 4, 2026 (SPS) – The municipality of Gonfreville-l’Orcher, in Normandy, held an official reception on Monday evening in honor of the Sahrawi national football team and its U-17 squad, who is currently staying in the town as part of their training program.
The event brought together municipal officials, members of the town's twinning committee, volunteers, and representatives of the local press, providing an opportunity to reaffirm the city's solidarity with the Sahrawi people and their just cause.
The Sahrawi sports delegation, which has been based for several days at the René Cance Center, is benefiting from what organizers described as excellent conditions for its stay and preparation ahead of upcoming sporting commitments. Throughout the week, the Sahrawi flag is also flying over Gonfreville-l’Orcher Town Hall as a symbol of solidarity with the Sahrawi people.
The reception was attended by Martial Ott, First Deputy Mayor to Mayor Alban Bruneau; Thierry Fondimare, Municipal Councillor for Sports; André Valin, Municipal Councillor for International Relations; Serge Le Bret, President of the Twinning and International Exchanges Committee; as well as several elected officials, volunteers, and members of the local media.
Speaking on behalf of the municipality, Martial Ott welcomed the Sahrawi delegation and stressed that the initiative extends well beyond the realm of sport. He highlighted Gonfreville-l’Orcher's longstanding commitment to the Sahrawi people, notably through its twinning partnership with the daïra of J'Reifiya in the Sahrawi refugee camps, its annual participation in the "Holidays in Peace" program for Sahrawi children, and its support for a number of humanitarian projects.
As part of its training program, the Sahrawi national team will play two friendly matches during its stay. The first match will see the Sahrawi national team face the senior team of ESMGO Football on Wednesday, August 5, at 6:30 p.m. at Maurice-Baquet Stadium. The second match will pit the Sahrawi U-17 team against the U-17 side of Solidarité Sportive de Gournay (SSG) on Friday, August 7, at 7:00 p.m. at the Stade de la Paix in Gournay.
Through this initiative, Gonfreville-l’Orcher once again demonstrates a tradition of solidarity with the Sahrawi people that has endured for decades. Beyond municipal cooperation, humanitarian assistance, and youth exchanges, football has become another platform for dialogue, training, and friendship between peoples.
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