Cote d’Ivoire team return home to an extraordinary welcome

February 12th, 2006 | by: Ade Lamidi | Comments Off

The Cote d’Ivoire team, runners up at the recently concluded African Cup of Nations returned home to a very warm reception on Saturday.

Thousands of fans were at the airport in Abidjan to meet the team. Also the streets of the capital were full of fans carrying banners titled ‘You have lost but we remain proud of you.’ Most of these fans fought tooth and nail to catch a glimpse of their unsung heroes.

To the fans, the team’s achievements remains the only source of salvation in a country undergoing political and economical instability at this present time. Football is the only thing that brings to together the Southerners and Northerners.

Veteran keep Jean-Jacques Tizie was overcome with emotions and said they weren’t expecting such a reception but he believes the fans reaction just shows the unique bond between the people and the team.

The team were planning to meet the country president Laurent Gbagbo late yesterday.