Tens of thousands of happy fans came together on the streets of Abidjan to celebrate Ivory Coast winning the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
It was a big show of pride and happiness for the whole country.
The exciting victory parade happened on Monday, after a tense final against Nigeria, which ended with Ivory Coast winning 2-1. Sebastien Haller, who scored the crucial goal, led the team through the lively streets on a decorated truck, showing off the three stars that represent Ivory Coast’s third AFCON title. People lined up on bridges and streets to cheer, and Monday was declared a special holiday to celebrate the nation’s support for their winning football heroes.
The festive parade, which lasted for four hours and had a lot of police protection, ended at the Felix Houphouët-Boigny stadium. Wearing shirts that said ‘African champions,’ the 2024 AFCON champions took a victory lap among fans dressed in the national color, orange. The atmosphere was full of emotion, and the players, touched by the warm welcome, shared how proud they felt.
One fan, Junior Djedjess, summed it up by saying, “With three stars, we have now joined the great African nations.” This feeling shows how incredible the team’s journey was, especially overcoming a tough start in the group stage that seemed disappointing at first.
The turning point happened when Emerse Fae, a former Ivorian player without coaching experience, took charge after the departure of the French coach Jean-Louis Gasset. Under Fae’s guidance, the team made an amazing comeback, beating Senegal and Mali against the odds.
Looking back on the team’s performance, Junior Djedjess said, “After that 4-0 defeat, I was sad, but we were still in it, and a new team was born.”
The fairy-tale story reached its peak with the fantastic victory over Nigeria in the final.
The celebrations are not over yet. The team is going to meet President Alassane Ouattara on Tuesday.
“Ivory Coast, here is your African cup. May God bless Ivory Coast.”
Max-Alain Gradel, the experienced Captain
The whole country is still feeling the joy and pride of winning the championship.