The Alassane-Ouattara Olympic stadium in Ebimpé.
burst into flames with a deafening noise.
Throughout the country, almost 27 million Ivorians will go out to dance and party.
A whole people will celebrate the coronation of the Elephants, going from the status of “zeroes” or “shame of the Nation” to heroes in two weeks, in their CAN at home.
By beating Nigeria (2-1), Ivory Coast won its third African Cup after those of 1992 and 1995.
This edition of CAN 2024 was one of surprises and irrationality.
It will therefore have remained so until the end with the miracle of the Ivory Coast.
The word is not too strong.
She thus experienced a change of coach in the middle of the competition (Emerse Fae replaced Jean-Louis Gasset after the 0-4 humiliation against Equatorial Guinea) came back from hell (qualification as best 3rd with only 3 points) , then beat Senegal in the 8th on penalties and Mali in the quarters in the 120th after epic scenarios.
After having inhibited it, popular pressure carried this team to the supreme coronation.
It was the victory of the Emerse Fae-Guy Demel duo who were able to mentally revive a battered group.
Fae knew how to redistribute the cards by making strong choices while Gasset was more conservative.
Returning home to Hérault, the 70-year-old coach certainly felt a pang in his heart when he saw his former protégés climb onto the roof of Africa.
But Gasset, who continued to watch the matches and send messages, certainly had a part in this victory.
His withdrawal in the form of a sacrifice will therefore have been beneficial.
The Ivorians have never given up
By showing itself astounding during this final, Côte d'Ivoire took its revenge from the 2nd group match where Nigeria won (1-0) on January 18.
If the start had been Ivorian with a recovery from Haller right next to it (7th), a scissor from Gradel on the small net (20th) and a duel lost by Adingra against Nwabali (34th), Nigeria would have shown surgical.
From the first corner, Troost-Ekong header converted his team's only opportunity (0-1, 38th) in the first period.
The Nigerian captain, central defender at PAOK Salonika, scored his 3rd goal of this CAN after his penalties against Ivory Coast in the group and South Africa in the half.
However, the Ivorians did not give up and set off again at the same pace and were rewarded.
Substituted by Basset on a strike from Gradel (53rd), then decisive on a heavy strike from Kossonou (62nd), Nwabali must bow to a header from Kessié (1-1, 63rd).
In the stands, Didier Drogba exults.
The atmosphere is hot but madness will take over the stadium.
After a scissor just wide (74th), Haller offers victory to the Elephants by deflecting a cross (2-1, 81st) from the elusive Adingra who is untenable on his left side.
Injured at the start of CAN, not starting, then scorer in the half and final, the Dortmund striker is indeed the symbol of this Ivory Coast which has recovered after almost returning from darkness.