But over the course of two football matches, they did at least give their beleaguered country a reason to hope.Get latest scores and headlines sent straight to your phone, sign-up to our newsletter and learn where to find us on online.How to get involved in just about any sport or activity Former Ivorian international Didier Drogba admitted in a program that his career would have been different without his wife.. Much of the fighting had ended in 2004, but tensions were rising once again in 2005. Performers Who Died In Front Of Their Audiences - Duration: 5:34. Please lay down your weapons and hold elections," Drogba urged. "Bearing in mind Drogba is from the south - from Gbagbo's area - he was just like a god at the time," says Austin Merril, a reporter who was in Ivory Coast working for Vanity Fair magazine. Back home, the party had already started.

On cue, the players sank to their knees. Even the rebel capital of Bouake bounced to the beat of victory that night.For all the revelry, and for all the 'Drogbas' - bottles of beers renamed in the striker's honour - Ivory Coast still woke up the following morning in the same situation, as a deeply divided country.Yet something was stirring and the following weeks and months were to see a dramatic change. This was a squad that could match anything on the African continent. An 89th-minute Sudanese strike was no more than a consolation. A 79th-minute equaliser, bundled in by Mohammed Shawky, brought Egypt level and swung the tide back into the Ivorians' favour. All rights reserved.
Inside the stadium itself, government and rebel troops hurled football chants back and forth. When things like that happen, it makes you realise how much people care about their country, their team. Drogba, who scored twice in the match, said the incident, in which at least 135 people were injured, put football into perspective. Anything less would allow The tag "golden generation" can be a substantial yoke to bear, but the Ivorian squad in 2005 was just that. Do not reproduce (even with permission).Didier Drogba is the latest celeb to fall victim to a death hoax There were reports of a conga line outside the Egyptian embassy as Ivorians showed their appreciation for the draw in Cameroon. Arsene Wenger, whose Arsenal side frequently found themselves on the wrong end of Drogba's brutal style, said of him: "He is a winner and he will be like that until the end of his life. A lofted ball from midfield dropped behind the defence, into the path of the onrushing Drogba. Drogba was standing, surrounded by his team-mates. "They all hid under the bed for four days, and only came out to find food. A win for Cameroon against Egypt would see them reach their sixth tournament. Drogba remains his country's highest goal scorer with 65 goals in 105 appearances and is the third most capped player after Kolo Toure who has 120 and Didier Zokora with 123 caps respectively.

The explosion of noise defied the stadium's modest capacity.The country's messiah wheeled along the running track in celebration, players and supporters streaming in his wake. It was a marked change from the violence of the recent past. News of footballer Didier Drogba’s death spread quickly earlier this week, causing concern among fans across the world. Pierre Wome's spot-kick crashed against the left-hand post and flew wide. The players huddled before it, their arms draped across each other's shoulders. But he and his team-mates were responsible for something far bigger than just footballing glory. It wasn't about football, but rather the unification of a country," says Omar.Drogba and his team-mates didn't single-handedly stop the civil war. It was a true Ivorian mosaic. The Toures from the north, Drogba from the south.

Back home, the party had already started. The Cameroon players gathered, dazed and despondent in the penalty area, some pulling their shirts over their eyes. Drogba retired from football in 2018 after a glittering career that saw success in six countries, with a place in the pantheon of African greats - if not world greats - already assured.
According to BBC, the elections are due to be held next month. "The whole country - every person, every house - was happy.

And change did follow.