Massive crowd welcomes Elephants back home

Hundreds of thousands of supporters at the airport and on the streets of Ivory Coast's commercial capital, Abidjan, yesterday welcomed home the Cote d’ Ivoire national football team, the Elephants,  after their victory at the 2015 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, edging neighbours Ghana 9-8 in a dramatic penalty shoot-out after extra time ended in a goalless draw.

Supporters, who had watched their Elephants 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.

"This cup must bring us peace. The politicians must be like the players. They must be united and create peace for us, their people!" said supporter Bakary Diomande.

President Alassane Ouattara, who travelled in his motorcade through the celebrating crowds last Sunday night, declared Monday a national holiday and called upon Ivorians to come to the lagoon-side national stadium to show their appreciation for the team.

—Reuters