Ivory Coast’s victory at CAN 2024 is exemplary and reflects the state of mind that guided this Elephants team throughout the competition. She reflected the desire to honor her country and was in symbiosis with all Ivorians. The joy of these people and the celebration of this triumph remind us of what we, Malagasy, felt during the Barea epic at CAN 2019. Some will say that it is only football, but this triumph is a symbol of the unity of the Ivorian people who supported their players in adversity and pushed them to excel to obtain this crown of best team in the competition.
The pride of an entire people after this coronation
The Ivory Coast team was in a difficult position from the start because it was immediately among the favorites. She represented the organizing country of this CAN 2024 and the pressure weighing on the shoulders of the players was overwhelming. This responsibility that she assumed was logical, given the quality of her players, some of whom shone in the European football championships. Didier Drogba, the Ivorian football star, did not hide the difficulty of the task, but he was confident in the task ahead of them. And indeed, the defeat recorded during the first match was a blow to the morale of these Elephants, but the continuation of the other confrontations in their group put them at odds with their public and they could even be eliminated in this first phase of the match. competition. Qualifying for the round of 16 was a struggle, but it allowed them to regain their confidence. She joined other great football nations in this stage, but with the support of all the Ivorian people, she did not stumble again. All the specialists affirmed that she was flying towards final victory. The talent of its players and the momentum inspired by the Ivorian supporters did the rest. The Super Eagles could do nothing against these elephants who galvanized the thousands of spectators at the Alassan Ouatara stadium. It was the deserved victory of a great team which won its third African championship title. Abidjan was ablaze all night and celebrated this coronation until the early morning.
Patrice RABE