MONTREAL: Ivorians Full of Joy After AFCON 2023 | Love for Morocco | Forgiveness

Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire – The 2024 Africa Cup of Nations will remain etched in memory as one of the most unpredictable and emotional editions in the history of African football. While few supporters dared to believe in an Ivorian victory at the start of the tournament, the Elephants defied all expectations, overturned predictions, and delivered to their people a triumph as spectacular as it was unexpected.

Arthur Amon, a devoted supporter, summed up the mindset of many Ivorians at the kickoff of the tournament:

“First, I want to ask the team for forgiveness because I had buried them… But today, they are the source of my joy.”

A dramatic turnaround that stirred deep emotions across the country, fueled by a journey full of doubts but ending in glory.

Mathieu, another passionate fan, reflected on this comeback:

“At first, we were confident. Then the confidence dropped. It’s the right time to say thank you to Morocco who allowed us to reach the second round. Since then, we’ve seen ourselves as the resurrected… The corpse that rises from the grave—you will smell its scent. And everyone we met on our path smelled our scent.”

A powerful image to describe the determination of the Elephants, who came back from the brink to conquer the cup.

Leandra, a supporter who came for Nigeria, admitted:

“Honestly, no, I didn’t expect Côte d’Ivoire to win. I came for Nigeria.”

But despite the defeat of her beloved team, she acknowledged:

“It’s all family, it’s okay.”

Yasmine, Kadija, and Cadidia, young supporters, shared their excitement:

“Me, my dad told me we were going to win 2-1. We won 2-1!”

“I’m Gambian but I supported Côte d’Ivoire. Even if they had lost 10 times, we knew we were going to win.”

And they concluded with unshakable faith:

“There is God’s justice.”

Brand, an Ivorian supporter, described the victory as a miracle:

“It was unexpected, it was desperate. But we rose to the challenges. We showed all of Africa that we are champions!”

For Sarah, another enthusiastic fan:

“AFCON is surprising every year, but this year it’s the best we’ve ever seen.”

Beatrice Zaco, visibly moved, recalled a decisive moment:

“Côte d’Ivoire was totally eliminated, we had no more hope. But Morocco played one last match that favored us.”

She also emphasized the historic bond between the two peoples:

“Ivorians don’t need a visa to go to Morocco. It’s a brother who reached out to us.”