Gate to the World

Nothing can be taken for granted in a country like Mauritania – and certainly not women's football. In his colourful and expressive series, the French Leica photographer, Lucas Barioulet, speaks about the courageous fighters who stand up to society, and follow their own path to emancipation. The 16-year-old Coumba is one of them.

"I met Coumba while following the youth Mauritanian national football team. The team coach immediately told me, “She is one of our best players. But you know, she is special, her story is different.” A few days previously, I had visited her at her home, a simple, small wooden house in Nouakchott, where she lives with her mom and her younger brother. Coumba was really shy, it was hard to get to know her at first. Then we played football for a bit, at the back of the house where the laundry was drying. I learned that she started to play secretly with her brother, a few streets away. When her mom found out, she was beaten. Then, Abdoulaye Diallo, coach of the national team, realised her talent and convinced her mum to let her play. At first, she used to wear gloves and a veil to hide her body, in the heat of the Mauritanian capital. Now, after a long talk with her mum and the coach, she plays in shorts and a t-shirt, head uncovered. It took time for her family to accept her passion, but now they are all proud of her. Especially her mom.
I took this portrait of her in the living room of her house. She proudly took out the jersey of the national team from a drawer, along with a pair of football shoes and her ball. She is 16 years old, but in her expression you can see the difficulties that she experienced early in her life."