The King of Sports, Football (American soccer). Every four years, the world watches the FIFA World Cup. Every four years, people from all parts of the world stop everything they’re doing in order to watch their country play football. Every four years, billions of dollars are invested in this event.1 Many praise it, many criticize it, but what nobody can deny is that football has a power to unite an entire nation and give its people hope and joy, whatever their condition or situation might be. Did you think football was irrelevant and useless? Well, you would be wrong. The power of football is immense, and the story you are about to read will show it. Yes, football, eleven players looking to put a ball in a goal, was able to end a civil war!
Despite moving to France at the age of five, Drogba never forgot his roots nor his people.5 Despite having the possibility of changing his nationality to French citizenship, which would have allowed him to play with a much more competitive team and with greater aspirations to win a World Cup (the ultimate prize of every football lover), love of his homeland was of greater importance to him. When Drogba returned to Côte d’Ivoire, he not only found a football team in ruins and with little hope of achieving any important achievement, but he also found a country in ruins and with hopes of progress almost destroyed.
It all began in September 2002. A group of military opponents of the Ivorian government decided to take the main cities of the country as a symbol of rebellion. The rebels attempted a coup, but it did not work, so they took refuge in the north. That was the beginning of the civil war in Ivory Coast.6
Despite the thousands of deaths during the first three years of the civil war, there was a reason to celebrate in Côte d’Ivoire: football. In 2005, Côte d’Ivoire obtained its first classification to a FIFA World Cup in all its country’s history. It came in a game against Sudan, in which the Ivoirians won 3-1.7 And then, with everyone celebrating that epic result, the captain of the Ivory Coast team, Didier Drogba, wanted to turn that celebration into a momentous moment for the history of the country. Kneeling, and surrounded by all the different races that made up the Ivory Coast Football Team, he turned to the national television camera, and began his message:
“Men and woman of Cote d’Ivoire from the North, South, Centre, and West. We proved today that all Ivoirians can co-exist and play together with a shared aim: to qualify for the World Cup. We promised you that the celebration would unite the people. Today, we beg you, on our knees: Forgive! Forgive! Forgive! The one country in Africa with so many riches must not descend into war. Please lay down your weapons. Hold elections. All will be better. We want to have fun, so stop firing your guns!” 8
Drogba’s message touched Ivoirians, because the country was affectionate at that moment of great celebration, and because they needed someone to open their eyes. After more than four-thousand dead in three years, who better to do so than the greatest idol who, at that time, was already elevated to the level of eternal legend. A week after that gesture, the two sides agreed to a cease-fire; it was the beginning of the end of the war.9
Although “Didi”’s speech was well received by both sides of the confrontation, there were still things to resolve in order to say that “the civil war was over.” Thus, in 2006, when Drogba received the prize for best African footballer of the year, he decided to return to Ivory Coast to show his country the precious trophy. But he did not go to his birth city, the capital of the country: he traveled to Bouaké, one of the cities that had been occupied by the rebels opposed to the government, where they had installed their headquarters. When he arrived, Drogba also gave a speech that again spoke of the importance of unity and peace for the progress and development of the West African country.
After that episode, in 2007, the captain of “The Elephants” (nickname given to the Ivorian soccer team) proposed something that was really daring and dangerous in case it materialized. Drogba’s aim was to realize an official match of the national team in the same city, Bouaké. His goal was to bring the unity of the country to its maximum expression on the most conflicted place, the capital of the rebels. It was not easy, but with the mediation of Drogba, the political and football authorities agreed. It was clear that it was not going to be a normal football game. That date, June 3rd of 2007, was The Day for Ivoirians. There was strong tension in the air, because both the people of Bouaké and those of the capital were present in the stadium. The pressure increased a lot more when the leaders of the Ivorian government arrived, who were with the rebels for the first time without bullets separating them. Miraculously, the king of the sport was able to bring rebel leaders, government leaders, and soccer fans together in one place. Then, the national anthem started, and the Ivoirian president Laurent Gbagbo and the rebel leader, Guillaume Soro, sang it side by side. Drogba knew at that moment that the Civil War was over. “To see the two sides together, to sing in unison the hymn of my country was very special. I felt Côte d’Ivoire was born again,” declared the great striker. Not surprisingly, the following day, after Ivory Coast’s 5-0 win against Madagascar, a local newspaper called “Five goals to erase five years of war.”10
Drogba ended up winning all the hearts of the Ivorian people, when in 2009 he decided to donate a hospital in Abidjan, the capital of his country. He did it with the three million pounds he had received after carrying out an advertising campaign with a well-known brand of soft drinks. He just established one condition: that the hospital services were totally free.11
In 2010, the well-known TIME magazine included Drogba among the 100 most influential people in the world, because of his peace objectives and results in the Ivorian Civil War.12From there, he became a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador. In addition, Drogba has a foundation, which built five hospitals in Côte d’Ivoire. The hospitals in Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Man, Korhogo, and San Pedro, which cost five million dollars, were paid for with Drogba’s own money.13 In football, you can be an idol based on goals and titles. But Drogba is much more than an idol. He is a hero, almost a saint, in Ivory Coast.
Like him, there are thousands of artists and athletes who enjoy popularity and unanimous approval in their countries. The great majority of these artists are blinded by fame and lust. They squander all their money and end up consuming drugs or are stuck in scandals of sexual abuse, tax evasion, or alcoholism.14 This was not the case for Didier Drogba. The Ivoirian used all his influence to build a better future for the next generations of Ivoirians. A World Cup qualification is an invaluable gift for a football lover, but something that even surpasses this is what “Didi” did: give his compatriots peace. Let us hope that the case of Drogba will not be the only one, and that these influential people can use their popularity for the good of others, for peace.
- Veysel Avsar and Unal Umut, “Trading Effects of the FIFA World Cup,” Business Source Complete, no. 3 (May 2014): 315-329. ↵
- Encyclopædia Britannica, September 2014, s.v. “Drogba, Didier,” by Jack Rollin. ↵
- Ishaan Tharoor, “These global sporting events totally dwarf the Super Bowl,” The Washington Post, February 05, 2016. ↵
- Grant Wahl, “In Praise of Drogba,” Sports Illustrated 116, no. 22, (May 28, 2012): 53. ↵
- Encyclopædia Britannica, September 2014, s.v. “Drogba, Didier,” by Jack Rollin. ↵
- Abu Bakarr, “Democracy and Civil War: Citizenship and Peacemaking in Cote d’Ivoire,” African Affairs no.1 (February 2010): 513. ↵
- Peter Law, “The World at their feet: five African representatives will be among 32 finalists vying for honors,” New African, no. 452 (June 2006): 59. ↵
- Paddy Agnew, “Drogba calls for peace as football unites Ivory Coast,” Irish Times (February 07, 2006): 12. ↵
- Grant Wahl, “Soccer Savior,” Sports Illustrated 112, no. 22 (May 2010): 52. ↵
- Alex Hayes, “How Drogba united the Ivory Coast Chelsea star acclaimed by his countrymen after ending five-year civil war,” Daily Telegraph (August 8, 2007): 22-23. ↵
- Laura Williamson, “It’s Saint Drogba!,” Daily Mail (November 12, 2009): 96. ↵
- Richard Stengel, “The 2010 TIME 100,” Time Magazine (April 2010). ↵
- John Hutchinson, “The Didier Drogba Foundation,” The Sun (February 17, 2012): 24. ↵
- Lawrence Wenner, Fallen sports heroes, media, and celebrity culture (New York: P. Lang, 2013): 201. ↵
71 comments
Brianda Gomez
9. I really enjoyed reading this article! It is amazing to learn how the soccer player, Drogba made such a huge impact. It is amazing how this soccer player helped all the people in need. He provided free health care, and this made him a hero to the Ivory Coast. Usually in our world today, there are many soccer players that would not do many of the positive things he did to help his people.
Mario Sosa
Excellent article! I had very recently read an article here that mentions how Native Americans used lacrosse to settle disputes, so it is very good to hear that that is being put to practice in recent times. Rather than getting caught up in scandals and vices, more athletes should strive to be more like Didier Drogba. Job well done on the article.
Edith De Loera
I am a huge soccer fan, and was aware of Didier Drogba’s story, but had no idea of the incredible role he played in ending a tragic war. This was a story of someone using their wealth and power for the greater good. I had always known about Drogba’s humbleness and acts of kindness but did not know he became a united nations goodwill ambassador, or built five hospitals! The soccer player is truly inspiring and I hope more athletes and celebrities would follow in his footsteps.
Gabriela Serrato
Fantastic! What an incredible story! Drogba is such and inspiration and a true hero. I am a firm believer that people should help as much as possible if they are able, but Drogba has gone one hundred steps further. I find it so admirable that he took his own money and voice to untie the country and help out so many. I can honestly not think of anyone else who has done this much for their own people as Dogba. I also find it amazing that he was a sports star, but has strayed from the typical image of a sports star. They are usually in the headlines for domestic assault, sexual assault, drug, or alcohol issues, but it is so refreshing to see someone who did not let fame and glory build an arrogant ego. He let his great accomplishments be his platform to change the world for better, and I find it incredible.
Tyler Sleeter
Interesting article with lots of information. I am not a fan of soccer, so I had never heard of this person before. It was interesting to me that Drogba became so famous in his country that he was able to inspire them to end a civil war and bring about peace. I like that he became a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador and had several hospitals built by his foundation. It is refreshing to read about someone using their fame and popularity to do real good and not just sell cars.
Maria Callejas
I LOVE SOCCER, so the minute I read the title this was a must-read. What I knew about Drogba prior to this article, was that is has a great player and that he had a player for a couple of years at the Chelsea football club. However, this article showed me a new perspective about him. Indeed a very interesting one. It is obvious that he is in love with his country, as he went out of his way and managed to stop the civil war. Great job and best of luck!
Christine Sackey
Great introduction! I have read this article before but I really enjoyed it both time. I enjoyed how the writer included a question which made me think about it. I think that this is a wonderful story. Drogba is influential the way that he was able to end the civil war in Sierra Leone. The victory of the team really brought the country and I find it cool that a football game has that much power. Drogba shows how knowing who you are is important, and that if you do want to make a change, you can do it your way.
Mariah Cavanaugh
This was truly an exceptional article. You did a wonderful job of putting it together and presenting it in a way that keeps the reader interested. I have so much respect for this man who returned to his war-torn home, started a football team then used his voice to speak out against injustice and his money to build hospitals. When Colin Kapernick took a knee during the national anthem a lot of critics told him that he should stay out of politics and stick to sports. Much like Drogba, Kapernick is now giving back to his community to make a difference. Whether you are an actor or an athlete you can use your position to make a difference.
Joel Gracia
This article was extremely touching. It is disappointing that there are not more athletic celebrities like this. Soccer is my favorite sport, so it was extremely satisfying and uplifting to see the positive impact that it had on the wellbeing of a full nation. I am glad that I read this article, because I had no knowledge of this topic prior to this, which is disappointing.
Alexandria Martinez
To think that one person could have so much power and influence, so much so that they could actually stop a civil war that had been going on for five years is amazing. The fact that this person was in no way involved with politics is also amazing. Drogba surely had to have been a great speaker and been able to connect to both sides in order to get through to them. This goes to show that celebrities can make a positive change in the world rather than just become obsessed with the limelight. This was an excellent article that told the story of an influential man that I had never heard of before but am glad to learn of now.