Drogba helped Ivory Coast qualify for the 2006 World Cup, ending a 76-year wait for his country. The striker was already a superstar back home as he was enjoying a glittering career at Chelsea.
After a 3-1 victory in Sudan to secure their place, the media were allowed in the dressing room and Drogba was handed the mic.
Starting straight at the camera, the charismatic forward spoke: "Men and women of the Ivory Coast...From the north, south, centre, and west, we proved today that all Ivorians can co-exist and play together with a shared aim – to qualify for the World Cup."
He continued: “Pardonnez!” – “Forgive! Forgive one another!”. Drogba’s appeal came amidst heightening tensions in an already bloody civil war that had been raging for 3 years, with millions affected.
The footballing team was a representation of the country's diversity. Over the outbreak of desperate cries, Drogba begged his countrymen: “Forgive! Forgive! Forgive! The one country in Africa with so many riches must not descend into war. Please lay down your weapons. Hold elections. All will be better.”
Their success on the pitch demonstrated the possibility for Ivorians, irrespective of background, to gather in harmony and work together.
The message saw Drogba and his teammates met by a crowd of thousands awaiting their return. A week on following the scenes from the dressing room, serving president Laurent Gbagbo publicly expressed his hope that football could become an example of national unity and a ceasefire was temporarily agreed.
Drogba then had an idea - what if the national team played in Bouaké, one of the cities occupied by rebels opposed to the government? He had his wish granted a year down the line.
On 3 June 2007, the Ivorian president and the rebel leader, Guillaume Soro, were in Bouaké’s Stade Municipal singing the national anthem side by side before the match against Madagascar as Ivory Coast won 5-0.
The next morning the title page headline of Ivorian newspaper ‘Fraternité Matin’ read: “Reconciliation through football: Five goals to end five years of war.”

Alan Virginius

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