The Japan Tour 2025 is slowly but surely coming to an end for Les Rouge et Bleu. After a first week of training and experiencing Japanese culture, the capital club faced the first of its two tour opponents on Tuesday: Zeekstar Tokyo. In front of a Yoyogi National Stadium that was packed out for this eagerly awaited match, Stefan Madsen's men were determined to continue their pre-season preparations with determination and conviction.
Spurred on by their fans, Zeekstar Tokyo showed great determination to perform well on home turf. Despite a strong start from Elohim Prandi, who scored three early goals, it was the home side who took the lead towards the end of the first quarter (12': 7-6). However, the Parisians were quick to settle into their game, and the two teams traded blows with neither managing to pull clear.
Elohim was clearly in great form and continued his heroics in the warm atmosphere of the Yoyogi National Stadium. With three more goals to his name, the Parisian left-back gave his team the lead against a Japanese side that had performed well in the first half (21': 14-13). Hiroki Motoki and his teammates stepped up a gear just before the break and were rewarded by drawing level with Paris, and the two teams went into the break on level terms after a first half that lived up to expectations (30': 20-20).
Stefan Madsen's men showed a very different spirit upon their return to the court. Determined to continue their good form and secure another victory, Les Rouge et Bleu stepped up the pace. In attack, Kamil Syprzak and Ferran Solé were ruthless in front of goal and put the capital club back on track. However, the Tokyo side were far from finished and once again managed to level it up (42': 25-25).
In the last quarter of an hour, Les Rouge et Bleu shone brightly, with the whole squad pulling together to get back in front. As the game entered its final stages, the home side began to lose momentum in the face of attacks from Kamil (eight goals) and Elohim (10 goals). At the same time, Abderahman Abdou and Noah Gaudin (each two goals) also found the back of the net to give Paris a decisive lead at the best possible moment (52': 32-30).
However, it came down to a splendid save from Mikkel Lovkvist in the final seconds for the Parisians to secure their first victory of the tour on Japanese soil. Under pressure from a Tokyo side that played their hearts out, the capital club showedp lent of team spirit to come away with a deserved victory (60': 36-35).
Stefan Madsen and his men will be back on the court tomorrow for the second and final friendly match of their Japan Tour. Paris will take on the Japanese national team at 19:20 local time (12:20 French time). The match will be broadcast live on YouTube and on our website.
