In connection with the match that ended today, Saturday, with the Algerian national team winning 2-0 against Tunisia in the final of the "Arab Cup" in football, one outcome led to the closure of the most famous avenue in the world, the luxurious "Champs-Élysées" in the heart of bustling Paris. This closure occurred despite being nearly 5,000 kilometers away from where the match took place at a stadium in Qatar.
The French police deployed dozens of officers in the vicinity and entrances of the avenue, anticipating the arrival of thousands of fans to celebrate Algeria's cup victory. The French police issued a statement on Saturday morning mentioning an increased security perimeter in Champs-Élysées starting at 11 AM on Saturday until 6 PM on Sunday "to ensure the safety of merchants, residents, and pedestrians during the holiday shopping period" on the avenue, which is often a major attraction for gatherings and celebrations of almost any popular occasion.
The police expressed concern that some individuals might exploit the matches, especially after the Qatar vs Egypt match, which ended in a victory for Qatar, as well as the match between Tunisia and Algeria for the cup. According to the French news channel LCI, there was fear of potential misconduct by those claiming to be supporters of any team, as the gathering of fans could pose risks to nearby shops and pedestrians. Despite a celebration occurring on the avenue when Algeria won against Morocco last Saturday, which did not encounter any issues, the police seem to have taken stricter measures today and tomorrow due to the differences in stakes between the cup final and the third-place match.
The second goal for Algeria was the highlight of the match. The Algerian's second goal proved decisive, thwarting Tunisia's attempts for a comeback. Player Yacine Brahimi noticed the Tunisian goalkeeper was out of position in the 124th minute, quickly capitalizing on a rebound from his own defense, advancing towards the opponent’s goal, and scoring the second and decisive goal for Algeria.
As soon as the match between Tunisia and Algeria concluded, the Algerian Yacine Brahimi, scorer of the second goal, was announced as the winner of the Golden Ball for the best player in the "Arab Cup," as chosen by the organizing committee of the tournament held for the first time under FIFA's auspices. The Silver Ball for the second-best player went to the Algerian Yusuf Belaili, while the Qatari Akram Afif received the Bronze Ball as the third-best player in the tournament.
