Celebrations erupt in Ivory Coast as nation offers warm welcome to the AFCON champions
Celebrations in Ivory Coast followed the amazing victory the night before, when the Elephants earned their third AFCON championship with a 2-1 final win over Nigeria
Celebrations erupt in Ivory Coast as the nation offers a warm welcome to the AFCON champions. Tens of thousands of ecstatic supporters gathered in Abidjan’s streets to celebrate Ivory Coast’s remarkable victory in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), in a spectacular display of national pride and celebration.
The exhilarating victory parade began on Monday, following the nail-biting final versus Nigeria, which ended in a 2-1 triumph.
Sebastien Haller, the night’s hero with the game-winning goal, led the squad through the busy streets on a specially decorated truck, proudly displaying the three-star insignia for Ivory Coast’s third AFCON championship. As supporters crowded bridges and avenues, Monday was proclaimed a national holiday to demonstrate the nation’s enthusiastic support for its triumphant football heroes.
The four-hour procession, with considerable police presence, ended at the Felix Houphouët-Boigny stadium. Wearing ‘African champions’ t-shirts, the 2024 AFCON victors conducted a lap of honor in front of a sea of orange-clad spectators, the national color. The atmosphere was fraught with emotion, and the players, overwhelmed by the great reception, showed their immense joy.
Junior Djedjess, a fan present at the celebration, summed up the sentiment: “With three stars, we have now joined the great African nations.”
The feeling represents the team’s incredible journey, which included surviving a difficult group stage that appeared destined for failure.
Following the retirement of experienced French coach Jean-Louis Gasset, Emerse Fae, a former Ivorian international with no coaching experience, took over as coach. Under Fae’s leadership, the squad made an incredible comeback, defeating Senegal and Mali despite the odds.
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Junior Djedjess reflected on the squad’s performance, saying, “After that 4-0 defeat, I was downhearted, but we were still in it, and a new team was born.”
The fairy-tale voyage culminated with a victorious win against Nigeria in the final.
The celebrations will continue on Tuesday, with President Alassane Ouattara receiving the squad.
In the words of Max-Alain Gradel, the veteran captain, “Ivory Coast, here is your African cup. May God bless the Ivory Coast.”
