The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire, Aïchatou Mindaoudou, on Tuesday, 3 March 2015, received the African Cup of Nations trophy brilliantly won by Côte d'Ivoire's national team, The Elephants in Equatorial Guinea, at the UN Mission's headquarters in Sebroko. The trophy was handed over to Mrs Mindaoudou by the President of the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF), Sidy Diallo. The highly emotional ceremony took place in the presence of members of FIF's executive committee and UNOCI personnel who turned up in huge numbers to pay homage to the Ivorian team who won the trophy 23 years after winning it in Dakar, Senegal in 1992.



The head of UNOCI who made a triumphal entrance with the trophy in hand in the hall where the ceremony was held, thanked the President of FIF for the honour he had bestowed on the international.

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Mrs Mindaoudou recalled the statement she had made the day after The Elephants victorious match, « their victory shows that when united in their differences, Ivorians are capable of overcoming any challenge and celebrating together with joy ».

(She also said that throughout their different matches during the African football competition, the Ivorian players had shown their capacity to transcend differences and nurture a team spirit for the good of their country.

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For the Special Representative, this image of The Elephants is a message for all Ivorians. « Even if sport and politics do not make good bedfellows, one can inspire the other », she added, adding that the reaction from political leaders from the different parties and civil society groups the day after The Elephants triumphant victory converged towards unity, national reconciliation in Côte d'Ivoire.



« I firmly believe that this victory will contribute to peace, dialogue and national reconciliation to which your country is resolutely committed, » she said.



Sport, said the Special Representative, due to its ability to bring people together is one of the pillars that Côte d'Ivoire has used as a way of strengthening social cohesion during the past decade. « Sport projects shared values such as team spirit, discipline, respect for opponents, respect for the rules of the game and acceptance of the results. These values are shared by everyone, all over the world. They are required in a democratic and credible game ». ‎

Mrs Mindaoudou ended by highlighting the fact that in accordance with its mandate, UNOCI organizes diverse activities including sports, in support of the Ivorian Government, to establish a peaceful environment which is necessary for the holding of credible elections in October 2015. ‎

Speaking on behalf of FIF, Minister Bamba Cheick Daniel, a member of the body's Executive Committee and delegated president of the national tour of the trophy expressed his delight with the extraordinary welcome his delegation had received from UNOCI. He explained that the national tour will go to 19 regions with the aim of promoting national reconciliation.



He aIso said that the presentation of the trophy to UNOCI by FIF was in recognition of the efforts made by the UN Mission to contribute to peace in Côte d'Ivoire. The FIF spokesperson announced that the trophy will be at UNOCI's disposal to support its sensitization activities to promote the culture of peace, social cohesion and national reconciliation whenever it wants.

The ceremony ended with the presentation of gifts to members of the Executive Committee, including a football stamped with UNOCI's name and logo and signed by the head of the UN Mission, as well as a certificate with the notation « UNOCI congratulates the Ivorian Football Federation for its commitment to national reconciliation in Côte d'Ivoire ». This was presented by the UN Mission in recognition of its efforts to reunite all Ivorians by using the sport to promote peace in Côte d'Ivoire.