- Title: SOCCER-NATIONS/IVORY Ivory Coast soccer team welcomed home after Nations Cup win
- Date: 9th February 2015
- Summary: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (FEBRUARY 9, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** FANS AT THE AIRPORT SHOUTING WITH JOY WAITING FOR THE TEAM CAPTAIN YAYA TOURE (ON LEFT, HOLDING THE TROPHY) AND COACH HERVE RENARD OF THE ELEPHANTS (IVORY COAST TEAM) DISEMBARKING THE PLANE WITH THE AFRICA NATIONS CUP TROPHY VARIOUS OF THE TEAM SHAKING HANDS AS THEY WALK ALONG A RED CARPET WITH IVORY COAST PRESIDENT ALASSANE OUATTARA (ORANGE CAP AND ORANGE SCARF) WALKING WITH YAYA TOURE PRESIDENT ALASSANE OUATTARA (SITTING) WITH (LEFT TO RIGHT) ALAIN LOBOGNON, MINISTER OF SPORTS, YAYA TOURE, GERVINHO AND ANOTHER TEAM MEMBER (SOUNDBITE) (French) ALAIN LOBOGNON, MINISTER OF SPORTS, SAYING: "It's a joy, a national joy! The Ivory Coast has made a comeback with this cup. We believe that 23 years since the last time. It is an advantage for the players, an advantage for the coach, an advantage the federation and and advantage for all Ivoirians who believed in it." VARIOUS OF THE PRESIDENT CARRYING THE TROPHY WALKING WITH YAYA TOURE THROUGH CROWDS OF PEOPLE (SOUNDBITE) (French) YAYA TOURE, ELEPHANTS TEAM CAPTAIN, SAYING: "You have to understand that things take time, they can go very fast or go slow and I think today the day has come for us. To be honest, in the beginning no one believed in us. But today is the day when the critics and gossipers are silenced." VARIOUS OF FANS CHEERING THE PLAYERS WHO ARE ON A BUS BUS BEING DRIVEN AWAY IN A CONVOY OF VEHICLES (SOUNDBITE) (French) KONATE MAIMOUNA, A STUDENT, SAYING: "We have been waiting for this for 23 years, and it came today. It is a joy. If we didn't win we wouldn't be proud to celebrate. So we are out and celebrating. I have been here since 6 a.m. (0600 GMT)." VARIOUS OF CROWDS AROUND THE STADIUM WAITING FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE PLAYERS
- Embargoed: 24th February 2015 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA61PJ8G4U7E7RCQZ5LXXAFFTCS
- Story Text: NOTE: AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING
Hundreds of thousands of supporters at the airport and on the streets of Ivory Coast's commercial capital Abidjan welcomed home the national soccer team on Monday (February 9) after its victory at the African Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea.
The West African state won its first Nations Cup title in nearly a quarter of a century on Sunday (February 8), edging neighbours Ghana 9-8 in a dramatic penalty shootout after extra time ended in a goalless draw.
Supporters, who had watched their Elephants team lose in two finals during a decade that saw their country descend into political turmoil and two civil wars, poured into the streets following the win in a party that lasted much of the night.
President Alassane Ouattara, who travelled in his motorcade through the celebrating crowds on Sunday night, declared Monday a national holiday and was among those at the airport to greet the team and accompany them on their victory parade.
"It's a joy, a national joy! The Ivory Coast has made a comeback with this cup. We believe that 23 years since the last time. It is an advantage for the players, an advantage for the coach, an advantage the federation and and advantage for all Ivoirians who believed in it," said Alain Lobognon, Ivory Coast's Minister of Sports.
For captain Yaya Toure, it was his first African Nations Cup title at the sixth attempt.
"You have to understand that things take time, they can go very fast or go slow and I think today the day has come for us. To be honest, in the beginning no one believed in us. But today is the day when the critics and naysayers are silenced," he said.
Cheering crowds decked out in Ivory Coast's national colours - orange, white and green - swamped the airport and packed the 15-km (nine miles) route that brought the team from the airport to the city centre.
"We have been waiting for this for 23 years, and it came today. It is a joy. If we didn't win we wouldn't be proud to celebrate. So we are out and celebrating. I have been here since 6 a.m. (0600 GMT)" said Konate Maimouna, a student and Elephants fan.
Monday morning, hours before the players were due to arrive there, the 45,000-seat stadium was already full and police officials broadcast messages ordering fans to stay at home for security reasons. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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