How Drogba United Ivory Coast Through A Beautiful Football Match

Didier Drogba of Ivory Coast is recognized as one of the African greatest in the football world. The phenomenal footballer is mostly remembered as a Chelsea legend. Well, what if I tell you that Drogba’s influence in his country through football is more spectacular than all he achieved in Chelsea? 

Beyond club football, Drogba’s impact in his country through football is simply surreal. In 2007, the star took a huge risk and eventually brought temporary peace to his country through football.

How Drogba United His Country Through Football

In 2007, Ivory Coast was facing severe unrest as the government and rebels were at loggerhead for years. Surprisingly,  Drogba announced that the match against Madagascar scheduled to be played in Abidjan on the 3rd of June 2007, will be played at Bouake, a rebel-held area. Bouake was not just any rebel-held area, it was the centre of the rebellion.

As expected, this announcement swept anxiety across the entire country. On the match day, everyone stopped working at noon in anticipation of the game. It was no longer just football, it was a very significant moment in their lives as a country. 

Inside of the Bouake stadium was packed with heavy military presence and for the first time in forever, government and rebel troops were at close range singing football chants in unison. 

The match kicked off and in 18 minutes, Salomon Kalou of Ivory Coast scored an opener. Interestingly, the Ivory Coast team kept hitting the net. At five minutes before the final whistle, Ivory Coast was leading 4-0. 

Celebrations filled the air and the Ivorians were in high spirits. While the crowd was anticipating the final whistle, the icing to the cake occurred. The man who has brought them all together scored a goal! The response to this special goal was explosive. That goal was the perfect ending to a spectacular story.

The footballer who through football hoped to unite his country scored and wheeled on the tracks in happiness. Both players and supporters ran to celebrate with him. Whereas, in the stands, old foes (the government and rebels) celebrated together.

The Aftermath of the Match

The final whistle was blown and supporters ran into the pitch in euphoria. The entire country was in a state of euphoria and for the first time in ages they were united. Whether from the south or the north, everyone was an Ivorian first. 

The sense of unity garnered from the football match restored unity for a while. Unfortunately, humans are quick to forget happy moments and deep-rooted issues have a way of resurfacing. Sadly, after a few years, the conflict returned and consumed 3,000 lives.

Nevertheless, Didier Drogba’s move was a class act and through the beautiful game of football, Ivory Coast tasted peace again after being starved of it.

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