Highlights: Ivory Coast, the reigning African champion, returned to the field in the north of France, in Amiens, the capital of Picardy. In the aisles of the Stade de la Licorne this Saturday March 23, 2024, an army of Elephants supporters came to celebrate the most beautiful African title. Despite inclement weather conditions, the fans put on a show in the stands and all around the stadium. “We are Ivory Coast, country of hospitality. The Elephant is not afraid of the rain, nor of Benin.”

Ivory Coast, the reigning African champion, returned to the field in the north of France, in Amiens, the capital of Picardy. In the aisles of the Stade de la Licorne this Saturday 23…

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Football: in Amiens, Ivorian fans in communion with their African champion Elephants

Ivory Coast, the reigning African champion, returned to the field in the north of France, in Amiens, the capital of Picardy. In the aisles of the Stade de la Licorne this Saturday March 23, 2024, an army of Elephants supporters came to celebrate the most beautiful African title. Despite inclement weather conditions, the fans put on a show in the stands and all around the stadium.

In Amiens, Héla (center) came to “check the third star” of the Ivory Coast. © RFI/Sophiane Amazian

By: Sophiane Amazian Follow

As hail swept through the city of Amiens late in the afternoon, hundreds of Ivorian supporters crowded towards the large gates of the Stade de la Licorne. There is no question of sitting in the stands straight away, but of enjoying the atmosphere which rises a few dozen minutes before the start of the friendly match between Ivory Coast and Benin.

“We are not champions by chance”

Not far from the club's official store, which has become the headquarters of the African champions' supporters, two friends are carefully scanning their phones, so as not to miss any of the latest news concerning their Elephants. Marc-Cyril and Ti-Bao couldn't miss this event for anything. Sunglasses well hung despite the bad weather in Amiens, the two Ivorians are impatient: “

after a month and a half, it is an immense pride to see our Elephants again with their three stars and to find them here in Amiens for a match certainly without stakes

,” insists Ti-Bao, as the rain increases in intensity.

“

We want to show that we were not champions by chance, that we have the level to compete in a World Cup and reach the top level

,” says Marc-Cyril, filmed by one of his friends . Can we reach the summits while criticisms are pouring out in Côte d'Ivoire concerning the holding of friendly meetings in France, a situation brushed aside by the two friends who live in the two countries: "There is

a large Ivorian community who live in France and who were unable to travel to the country during the CAN, it is a way of presenting the new star and being happy all together

,” insists Marc-Cyril.

“We want to check the third star”

“

Amiens, it will be a mini-Abidjan, prepare for the hammer blow!

» the two friends conclude with a smile before going through the security gates. A little further on, the Amiens club shop is packed. Inside, Elephants supporters robbed the shelves in search of scarves and flags. Outside, near the paths covered by a jail roof, others protect themselves from the torrential rain, like Héla, a Franco-Ivorian supporter who came to “

check the third star

”.

“

We just came to play, to support coach Emerse Faé

,” explains the young supporter, provoking laughter from her two friends. While the trumpets echo all around the stadium, Héla points to them while declaring: “We

are Ivorians, we are going to set fire, it is our identity, it is a profession with all its splendor

”. His friend attests and adds: “

We are Ivory Coast, country of hospitality. The Elephant is not afraid of the rain, nor of Benin

.”

“

As a true Ivorian, we love the noise, the atmosphere and the blow of the hammer

,” concludes Héla, proudly brandishing the Ivorian flag above her head, before finally adding: “

We didn’t come to Amiens, in the north, under the hail to lose, it's obvious. It’s just the continuation of our CAN that we came to check

.”

Half happy supporters, the Elephants were held in check (2-2) against Benin in a Unicorn Stadium which sang to the glory of the new African champions. After a first match played here in September 2022 for a victory against Guinea, the city of Amiens definitely takes on the Ivorian accent.

Football: in Amiens, Ivorian fans in communion with their African champion Elephants

Football: in Amiens, Ivorian fans in communion with their African champion Elephants

“We are not champions by chance”

“We want to check the third star”

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