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Written in the stars is a phrase that’s used all too often, but in the case of Ivory Coast, the new AFCON champions, no phrase is more fitting. The Elephants, who last won the title in 2015, were on the brink of getting knocked out of the tournament in the first round, as hosts.

Jean-Louis Gasset, the manager at the start of the tournament for the hosts, lost his job when his side lost 4-0 to Equatorial Guinea. Ivory Coast appeared to be out of the tournament in disgrace.

The country’s FA, approached old manager Herve Renard to be their coach in the AFCON, on a caretaker period, which the French FA turned down. That rejection meant that the untried untested Emerse Fae would take charge for the rest of the tournament.

This challenge in some senses was easy, as his Ivory Coast side couldn’t go any lower, but on the other hand fans of the Ivorians, would never settle for anything less than 100% effort.

After a reprieve by the tightest of margins, it just seemed it was destiny for Ivory Coast to win this year’s AFCON.

Last-gasp wins against then-holders Senegal on penalties and a 122-minute winner against Mali and a comeback-from-behind win against Nigeria in the final only demonstrates further Ivory Coast’s fairy tale win.

If you need anymore persuasion of the fairy tale. Sebastien Haller, who recovered from cancer, scored the winner for the Ivorians.

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