Wow! Thousands of jubilant Ivory Coast supporters flooded the streets of Abidjan in celebration of their incredible victory in the Africa Cup of Nations. They blew whistles, vuvuzelas, and sang and chanted with pure joy. The atmosphere was electric as they gathered near the Félix-Houphouët-Boigny Stadium, eagerly awaiting the team's victory parade through the city.
The Elephants triumphed over Nigeria with a 2-1 victory in the final, securing their country's third title. The win sparked unforgettable celebrations that lasted all night, generating pure excitement in Abidjan and beyond.
One Ivorian worker, Issouf Traoré, summarized the feelings of many when he said, "It's God." He, like numerous others, believed that there were divine reasons behind the team's remarkable success, especially after their near elimination and the firing of their coach during the group stage.
Interim coach Emerse Faé made history by becoming the first coach to win the tournament without being in charge from the start. Supporters, like Sanogo Karamoko, were in awe of this incredible feat, which also ended the long wait for a host country to win the biennial tournament since Egypt in 2006.
The fans danced and cheered in the stadium, eagerly awaiting the arrival of their heroes, while others took a moment to rest, still in awe of the night-long celebrations. Supporters also flocked to the team's hotel in the district of Cocody, from where the victory procession began, as they embarked on a slow crawl through a sea of fans.
Some fans even waved Moroccan flags to express their gratitude to the Atlas Lions for helping Ivory Coast stay in the competition. Morocco's win against Zambia allowed Ivory Coast to squeeze into the knockout stage as one of the best four third-place finishers in the six groups.
Aminata Sahoné, wearing a Morocco cap and carrying a Morocco bag, expressed her appreciation, saying, "Without this win from Morocco, we wouldn't have qualified. It would have been finished for us, but they came, they scored, they won. It gave us a chance, some strength, and belief in fighting to make something possible. Well, it paid off."
Ivory Coast's journey to the final was filled with ups and downs, including the firing of their coach, but they overcame it all with dramatic come-from-behind wins over defending champion Senegal and Mali in the knockout stage. Sébastien Haller, who scored the winning goal against Congo in the semifinals, also sealed the victory against Nigeria in the final.
Emotions ran high for Borussia Dortmund forward Haller, who recently returned after cancer treatment. It's been just over a year, and he delivered such a crucial goal for his team.
Midfielder Seko Fofana summed up the team's sentiments perfectly, saying, "Every game was difficult. We hope everybody is going to enjoy this moment because it's not every day." The excitement and joy of this historical victory will surely be cherished by Ivorians for years to come!