The Anthem
L'Abidjanaise
▶ Listen on YouTube ↗“Salut Ô terre d'espérance… / Hail, O land of hope…”
Named for the city of Abidjan, where it was written at independence in 1960.
The Legends
Names that echo
Didier Drogba
Forward · 2000s–10s
Chelsea icon — and the man whose words are credited with helping pause a civil war.
Yaya Touré
Midfielder · 2000s–10s
A four-time African Footballer of the Year and Manchester City great.
Gervinho
Forward · 2000s–10s
Electric winger of the golden generation.
Fun Facts
Worth knowing
- 01
In 2005, Didier Drogba knelt on live TV and begged warring factions for peace — a ceasefire followed, and football is credited with helping calm the nation.
- 02
Yamoussoukro, the official capital, holds the largest church building in the world by area.
- 03
Côte d'Ivoire officially asks to be called by its French name, not 'Ivory Coast', in all languages.
At the World Cup
The story so far
Home of a celebrated 'golden generation' led by Drogba and the Touré brothers, the Elephants drew some of the hardest groups imaginable in 2006–2014 and never quite escaped them.
The golden generation arrives
Drawn in a 'group of death' on its debut, Côte d'Ivoire beat Serbia and announced a remarkable era of Ivorian football.
Group Stage