How the Ivory Coast football squad exemplified peace in competition
And what that means today
Words: Declan B, New York New Jersey
It was Oct 8, 2005, and the Ivory Coast team fixed their attention on the ongoing Cameroon, Egypt match with bated breath. After their win against Sudan, a draw or loss for Cameroon would leave Ivory Coast as the winner of CAF Group Three and send the squad to the 2006 World Cup.
While they waited for the news of their lifetimes, their homeland, the Ivory Coast, was embroiled in a bloody civil war. The rebels known as the New Forces had failed in an attempt to overthrow President Laurent Gbagbo, and the ensuing conflict had split the predominantly Muslim north held by the rebels from the predominantly Christian south.
The squad affectionately known as The Elephants was a source of pride with World Cup hopes that lifted the spirits of a broken nation.
The team huddled around a radio to listen to updates from the pitch. Cameroon had taken an early lead, only to be tied later in the game by Egypt. At the last moment in injury time, the worst came true for the Ivory Coast; Cameroon was lined up for a penalty kick. The team’s left back, Pierre Womé, failed to make the penalty shot and advance his team. To the dismay of millions of Cameroonians, the ball struck the left post and Cameroon failed to take back the lead.
The Elephants erupted into cheers, knowing that they would be the first Ivory Coast team to represent their country at the World Cup. This win would not be the end of Ivory Coast’s monumental night. Didier Drogba, the Chelsea Forward and the team’s star player, had made a habit of post-game prayer, but this one would be different.
Drogba stood in front of a camera broadcasting to the nation with a microphone, ready to give a speech with huge ramifications for his country.
“Men and women of Ivory Coast,” Drogba said to all those watching. “From the north, south, centre, and west, we proved today that all Ivorians can coexist and play together with a shared aim: to qualify for the World Cup. We promised you that the celebrations would unite the people. Today we beg you on our knees…” Together, the team all knelt down. “The one country in Africa with so many riches must not descend into war. Please lay down your weapons and hold elections. We want to have fun, so stop firing your guns.”
While it is not known how many saw the speech live, it can be assumed that a large part of the population saw Drogba’s plea for peace, and many more saw reruns on other stations.
The effects were not felt immediately. The residents of the Ivory Coast still lived in a country ravaged by war, with an estimated 750,000 displaced throughout the conflict. However, it brought both sides closer to the negotiation table, and Drogba wasn’t finished.
He announced the 2007 season opener would be held in the formerly rebel-occupied city of Bouaké just three months after the end of the fighting. The spectacular match resulted in a 5-0 finish against Madagascar and game-ending goal from Ivory Coast’s very own Drogba. The pitch was swarmed by fans from all sides of the country, united by a special squad.
The team had symbolically reunited the nation and highlighted the importance of sports in the peace process.
In 2025, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal.”
“Sport teaches lessons,” General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock stated. “And imagine what the world would look like if it was more like a soccer field, where it does not matter the colour of your skin, what your parents earn, who you love, or which God you believe in.”
This sentiment has been reflected since the first Olympics held between the Greek Polis in 776 BC featured a truce to protect the athletes and the spirit of the game. Even now, participants in the modern Olympics still agree to a truce and promise to protect the athletes who represent their home countries.
The increase in armed conflict in the past few years has affected millions of sports and football fans worldwide. The 2026 World Cup will feature multiple teams whose home countries are currently experiencing conflict, including Iran and the United States (which is also a host country), and some facing internal conflicts.
The prospect of friendly competition may ease real tensions and, as Baerbock said, teach participating nations a lesson: our opponents are not our enemies but partners in a shared endeavor.
Declan is a New York City based participant in Youth Media Forward: meet the New York New Jersey participants here