after the victory of Côte d’Ivoire, a capital joy in Abidjan

Ivory Coast has been waiting for this since 2015. Almost ten years later, the Elephants won the African Cup of Nations (CAN) at home on Sunday February 11, by overthrowing Nigeria in the final in Abidjan (2-1). In the capital, the day was long, very long. Between frenzy and impatience, the Ivorians passed the time as best they could until the ultimate deliverance.

From early morning, we understood that this day would not be like any other. A trip to the gas station was enough for us to know that something was going to happen. Was it really normal for gas station attendants to come and serve customers while dancing and singing to the glory of the Elephants? Was it possible for customers to get out of their cars to do the same? No ? Yet this is exactly what happened: for the first time in their lives, Ivorian motorists were happy to drop a wad of CFA francs to fill up! Football sometimes has these virtues.

So obviously the whole day wasn’t so joyful. There were even a few chaotic moments. But despite everything, this is what we have to remember: the Ivorian supporters wanted to party and until the final whistle, they prayed that the Super Eagles of Nigeria would not come and ruin everything.

An orange caterpillar in procession

After the gas station episode, we first had the impression that a long orange caterpillar was in procession through the streets of “Babi”, the nickname of the city of Abidjan. Ivory Coast jerseys everywhere, in all sizes, on all shoulders. Then the procession moved towards the stadium. Its official name is imposing: Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium (the name of the president) of Ébimpé (the district where it was built). The truth is less high-sounding since this enclosure is located in the middle of nowhere, kilometers from the first homes and the roads surrounding it are used for nothing other than getting there, the roundabouts are for nothing. other than getting lost.

And since the security perimeter around the stadium had been further enlarged compared to that of the semi-final, everyone had to walk, for a long time, in the oppressive heat, to deserve their final. The final stretch even seemed endless. Especially since the controls, unlike usual, were rather dry, or rough, depending on whether you are sensitive or a little less. Police officers and soldiers, undoubtedly tired from a month of competition and certainly under pressure for this big day, had left their smiles at the barracks, locked away in the back of their cupboards. But their families can rest assured: they were back in good spirits when the final whistle blew.

Stands with a dancing mood

To get to the kick-off, from controls to controls, we progressed towards the stadium. Passed orange buses, chatted with volunteers frightened by the crowd, or happy to have held on until the end. We also laughed with supporters of all nationalities. With Clinton, for example, a Nigerian from Paris, not entirely convinced that his eagles would succeed in defeating the Elephants, especially if they were pushed by such a public and galvanized by the idea of ​​winning a third African Cup, which more is at home.

Once in the stands, the atmosphere went up a notch. Or even four! And the Orange people started dancing as if they were at a gas station, like that, for the pleasure of being together and probably also to avoid finding the time too long. Because if we say that in France, everything always ends in song, the big lesson of this CAN is that in Ivory Coast, everything begins and ends with a dance. Zouglou or coupé-décalé, you choose, but you dance!

The other favorite pastime of the Ivorians, in the stands, is talking to each other, making jokes with each other and giving each other nicknames. We followed the match together, with Thomas Sellin, from franceinfo, and at half-time, while the Elephants were trailing 1-0, our neighbors found a way to rename us “Kouassi” And “Koffi”. We didn’t try to find out why, but our new friends seemed so happy with their findings that we laughed with them!

As if Emmanuel Macron was acclaimed at the Stade de France

Two Ivorian goals later, the Orange were African champions for the third time in their history. A three-star team for an extraordinary audience! The African dance class could resume with a vengeance while waiting for the cup to be handed over. An incredibly long ceremony, in fact. In particular the installation of podiums, stairs, arches supposed to welcome the winners and their trophy. Long minutes passed before the officials and Alassane Ouattara entered the pitch. As incredible as it may seem to a European, the Ivorian president was literally acclaimed by the public, by “his” public. No doubt a way for supporters to thank their president for wanting to organize this CAN in Ivory Coast. A bit as if Emmanuel Macron had been acclaimed at the Stade de France for the final of the last Rugby World Cup. Unthinkable!

But perhaps we just have to understand that on Sunday evening, the Ivorians wanted to thank everyone, to be kind to everyone, that they were in a dancing mood, as we have said, but also in a sharing mood. . They therefore chanted the name of their president and they also screamed when the flag of Morocco, the organizing country of the next CAN, appeared on the giant screens of the stadium. Or rather, they screamed when the flag of Morocco, the team that allowed them to qualify for the round of 16 by dominating Zambia 1-0, appeared on the stadium’s giant screens. Ivory Coast, Morocco grateful!

Run on the lawn like Elephants

The end of this memorable evening turned into a big mess. Of course, the 60,000 spectators danced in their seats, on the stairs and on the stadium square. As always, since the round of 16, they have screamed at the sight of the slightest microphone that “God is Ivorian”, that “renunciation is not Ivorian”before ending with the famous “we’re worthless, but we won”, little message to all those (and there were quite a few of them, including the Ivorian “supporters”) who explained, after the first matches, that the Elephants were bad.

But Sunday evening, there is no question of dwelling on the past. The crowd was drunk with happiness and all turned towards the future. In the tumult, a young lady even explained to us that her “Pachyderms were going to win the next World Cup”, just that ! Carried away by the surrounding madness, we decided to hit the pitch at the Alassane Ouattara stadium. And against all odds, we succeeded. We even ran like kids on this supposedly blessed lawn, imitating Sébastien Haller or Seko Fofana. The stewards, the military and the police had nothing to do with it. Normal after all: we were Kouassi and Koffi and we had also won the African Cup of Nations.