That time Didier Drogba stopped a Civil War with probably the most emotional speech we’ve ever seen

A legend on and off the pitch

It was in October 2005 in Omdurman, the second largest city of Sudan, where Drogba intervened to halt a civil war that had begun three years earlier in 2002, and which divided the Ivory Coast.

The government of President Laurent Gbagbo was controlling the south of the country at the time, while a rebel faction known as The New Forces of Ivory Coast, led by Guillaume Soro, was in charge of the north.

The Ivory Coast players had just made history as they secured the country’s place at the 2006 World Cup, thanks to the 3-1 win away over Sudan.

And while the scene in the changing room was one of jubilation, the players – which included other Prem stars like Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue and Didier Zokora - had more pressing concerns on their minds.

Due to the bloody civil war in the country, an estimated 4,000 people had been killed and over 1 million were displaced.

Drogba’s iconic speech – and the rest is history

It was Ivory Coast’s captain, Cyril Domoraud, who invited journalists into the changing room while he handed Didier Drogba the mic.

The Chelsea striker was the star and national icon of Ivory Coast, so it was fitting that he gave the speech.

“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.”

“The one country in Africa with so many riches must not descend into war like this. Please, lay down all weapons. Hold elections, organize elections. All will be better.”

And the players started to sing as they stood up with broad smiles now spread across their faces.

“We want to have fun, so stop firing your guns,” they sang in a chorus.

The first Civil War in Ivory Coast was centered around national identity and ‘Ivoirité’ – but what did it mean to be truly Ivorian?

If they could not provide documentation that both their parents were born in the Ivory Coast, people were denied official nationality.

And by the time Drogba addressed his nation from the Al-Merrikh Stadium in Sudan, the civil war had been raging for three years already.

The team’s qualification for the World Cup and Drogba’s speech helped convince the government and opposing New Forces to hold a ceasefire and restart peace talks.

The two warring sides then signed an official peace agreement, just months later, in early 2007.

The country’s president, Laurent Gbagbo, then declared that the war was over.

However, the road to continued peace was a bumpy one, as the elections – which were initially supposed to take place in 2005 – weren’t held until 2010.

The election results were disputed and war soon broke out again in the West African nation.

And while in the UK and elsewhere Drogba will be remembered mostly for his exploits on the pitch, it’s his efforts to help try and bring to an end a civil war which won’t be forgotten back in his home country.

A few months after the peace agreement, Drogba told the Telegraph: “Seeing both leaders side by side for the national anthems was very special”.

“I felt then that the Ivory Coast was born again.”

Ivory Coast qualified for the FIFA World Cup a total 4 times, three more times after their historic achievement in 2005.

Their appearances, other than in 2006, were in 2010, 2014, and most recently the 2026 World Cup.