Mario Lemina, le Gabon dans les veines - ORIGINS｜épisode 2

In ORIGINS, Lee-Roy Kabeya meets with dual-national African athletes of African descent. These sports personalities reveal the hidden sides of their journeys, their shared identity between two cultures, and much more. Mario Lemina opens up about his story, his roots, and the choices that shaped his career. Born to a Gabonese mother and a French-Italian father, Mario Lemina grew up immersed in several cultures, from Gabon to France. He recounts his childhood in Nanterre, his family's struggles, his beginnings in football, his initial setback at Lorient, and the perseverance that allowed him to become a professional. 🎙️ Watch the full episode. #MarioLemina #Gabon #Origins #Football #AFCON #Juventus #OM Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:59 What does it mean to be dual-national? 03:43 Arriving in France and the family's difficulties 06:07 How Mario Lemina fell in love with football 07:41 School discovers his talent 09:14 Growing up in a Gabonese family in France 10:33 The teasing and the loss of his accent 11:37 Between France and Gabon: finding his identity 14:15 The influence of his mixed-race father 15:45 Leaving his family to become a footballer 17:01 The turning point: "I either succeed in football or I quit" 18:12 The first setback at Lorient 19:03 How Mario Lemina managed to break into Lorient 21:34 From an unpaid contract to a professional contract 23:28 The French national team and the Pogba generation 24:35 U20 World Cup winner with France 26:18 The transfer to Olympique de Marseille 28:11 Establishing himself in a locker room with Mandanda, Gignac, and Thauvin 29:31 Juventus, trophies, and Paul Pogba 31:24 Why Mario Lemina chose Gabon 33:20 "I refuse Italy, my allegiance is to Gabon" 35:01 The dream of representing Gabon 37:28 His first steps with the Panthers 39:38 His relationship with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 41:51 How Lemina and Aubameyang became close 43:08 His first AFCON and injuries 45:03 The 2022 AFCON in Cameroon and the Covid affair 48:34 "We were treated like we were in prison" 49:28 The myocarditis affair 50:43 Why Mario Lemina left the national team 51:31 His stance on behalf of young Gabonese players 53:36 Why he agreed to return to the national team 55:41 His Noah Lemina and the role of big brother 58:34 Helping Noah overcome his trauma 01:00:52 Mario's advice to his little brother 01:02:00 His perspective on Gabonese football 01:06:25 "Gabonese football is going to stop" 01:07:42 The suspension of the Gabonese national team 01:08:32 The shame of representing Gabon abroad 01:10:53 Why Mario Lemina wants to stay in Turkey 01:12:45 Celebrations with Galatasaray 01:15:39 Fanny talks about Mario Lemina 01:17:18 Their relationship facing career challenges 01:19:24 Family life in Turkey 01:21:28 Fanny and her relationship with Africa