Didier Drogba: The King who stopped a Civil War

The Football Perspectives Club today discusses how, through sport, the fate of a country can change.

Didier Drogba is a name that sends waves of fear in defenders across the globe. He will always be remembered for his exploits on the pitch, scoring goals in the biggest of games, deciding cup finals and titles for Chelsea.

Winning the Premier League 4 times, the Champions League and countless domestic trophies, his biggest achievement would be bringing an end to the First Ivorian Civil War.

In a war raging for 4 long years, over 4000 people had died and millions were displaced. The country remained split in two, with a rebel-held north and a government-held south. Hostility increased and raids on foreign troops and civilians rose. As of 2006, the region was tense, and many said the UN and the French military failed to calm the civil war.

A landmark event in the history of the sporting and political history of the country were the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifications. For a country hit by war, this could have been a rare opportunity to smile.

Ivory Coast, playing away from home, with everything on the line, stepped on pitch. As fate would have it, they beat Sudan 3–1 and ensured qualification for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

As the country and players celebrated, Drogba took charge and took this opportunity to address the people of his country and the opposing sides of the Civil War. It was the entire team’s appeal for peace in their great country.

“Men and women of the Ivory Coast,” he said down the lens, his face stern and sincere. “From the north, south, center and west, we proved today that all Ivorians can coexist and play together with a shared objective: to qualify for the World Cup.”

“We promised you that the celebration would unite the people. Today, we beg you, please -- on our knees -- forgive. Forgive, forgive.”

What followed was an immediate ceasefire and peace talks between the warring parties.

Drogba like a true King engaged in a lot of social welfare activities in Ivory Coast and Africa, being named as the Goodwill Ambassador for United Nations Development Programme in 2007 and in 2010 TIME 100 most influential people.

Stopping a war, which the UN and French militaries failed, was successful through the Beautiful Game.