Emmanuel Langellier, media365: published on Friday August 15, 2025 at 3:10 p.m.
Benefiting from a package, Makarita Baleinadogo was called at the last minute in the French team to compete in the World Cup.
In an attempt to do better than 3rd, its best place won 6 times in 1994, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2017 and 2021, the French team will rely on 32 players during the 2025 World Cup under the orders of Gaëlle Mignot and David Ortiz. In their selection revealed a few days ago, the two co-selectors called on a surprise guest. Initially, it should not be there indeed … But Ambre Mwayemba was the victim of a fracture with the malleolus, which forced her in the package, and Makarita Baleinadogo saw her summer take another turn. No selection on the clock, the Bordeaux, absent from the 38 starting list, has been called and will therefore take part in the major competition. Not invited last Saturday to face England (6-40), the pilière of the Bordeaux stadium will soon fly to England where the Bleues must face Italy, Brazil and South Africa in Pool D.
Ortiz: “A player we have been following for a while”
“Makarita is a player we have been following for a while. It is true that she has never been summoned with us before. The choice fell on it compared to the very specific amber profile of the left pillar, justified David Ortiz, when the list was announced to the CNR of Marcoussis. It was a need for us, for the balance of the first line and the possibility of creating the best associations, to call on a player in the same left pillar profile. Compared to our discussions and our follow -up over the last 3 years, Makarita was a player with a profile that interested us and we think we made a good choice. »»
Crowned champion of France with Bordeaux
Powerful and skillful of both hands, Makarita Baleinadogo, daughter of Daniele Baleinadogo (10 selections with Fiji between 2001 and 2007, and passed by Aurillac, the Montois and Mâcon stadium), will represent the French team on the momentum of the title of French champion won with the Gironde formation, which came 10 other players convened among the tricolor contingent. “We warned her to be ready because a world cup prep is long and the sores are among the vagaries,” said Gaëlle Mignot about the young woman, who arrived in 2010 from Fiji in France when she was a child before conducting university studies in languages in Grenoble. If it did not make the initial list, Baleinadogo has arrived in shape because it has just participated in the Summer Series with the XV of France U20.
