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Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has made a visit to Ivory Coast's separatist north and called on the country as a whole to unite in peace.
The African footballer of the year took his African Player of the Year golden ball award to Bouake in the north to show to the people.
Ivory Coast has been split in two sine a failed coup d'etat against president Laurent Gbagbo in 2002, with the northern half controlled by the New Forces rebels and the south by Gbagbo's government.
Drogba was given a hero's welcome by New Forces general secretary and new Ivory Coast prime minister Guillaume Soro.
"I have come here to offer you a golden ball, it's the golden ball for the whole of the Ivory Coast," said Drogba from a podium on the famous Carnival Square.
"This is only the beginning. In June the whole Ivory Coast national team will be at Bouake for the match against Madagascar (in an African Nations Cup qualifier).
"June 3 will be a memorable day, it will be the victory for Ivory Coast football, the victory of the Ivory Coast people and quite simply there will be peace."
The African footballer of the year took his African Player of the Year golden ball award to Bouake in the north to show to the people.
Ivory Coast has been split in two sine a failed coup d'etat against president Laurent Gbagbo in 2002, with the northern half controlled by the New Forces rebels and the south by Gbagbo's government.
Drogba was given a hero's welcome by New Forces general secretary and new Ivory Coast prime minister Guillaume Soro.
"I have come here to offer you a golden ball, it's the golden ball for the whole of the Ivory Coast," said Drogba from a podium on the famous Carnival Square.
"This is only the beginning. In June the whole Ivory Coast national team will be at Bouake for the match against Madagascar (in an African Nations Cup qualifier).
"June 3 will be a memorable day, it will be the victory for Ivory Coast football, the victory of the Ivory Coast people and quite simply there will be peace."