Cardinal Agré urges Ivoirians to back "Elephants"

Bernard Cardinal Agré

Function: Archbishop Emeritus of Abidjan, Côte dIvoire

Title: Cardinal Priest of San Giovanni Crisostomo a Monte Sacro Alto

Birthdate: Mar 02, 1926	Country: Ivory Coast

Elevated: Feb 21, 2001	More information: www.catholic-hierarchy.org

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Cardinal Agré urges Ivoirians to back "Elephants"
Oct 15, 2005
The head of the Catholic church in Cote d`Ivoire, Cardinal Bernard Agré, has urged Ivorians to rally behind the national football team in Sunday`s match against Cameroon in the 9th round qualifier for the joint 2005 FIFA World Cup/ African Cup of Nations finals.

(AngolaPress, September 13, 2005) Abidjan, Cote d`Ivoire - "This is not an ordinary match and we should not take the luxury of losing it because through it we shall learn lessons for harmonous living and earn that badly needed will to turn towards peace," the Cardinal told journalists in Abidjan Thursday after an audience with the president of the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF), Jacques Anouma.

According to him, all the major teams want victory, but the difference comes in their determination to win, their preparation and mental capacity to win competitions. "The Elephants possess that mentality of winning and I encourage them to surge ahead," the Cardinal added.

However, he urged Ivorian players to show humility, efficiency and their best form in their actions to merit their victory.

Meanwhile, Jacques Anouma highlighted the importance of his curtesy call on the Cardinal in the bid to mobilise the public to back his dream of notching Cote d`Ivoire`s first qualification for the World Cup finals.

"We regard this 9th round match to be the final in the group because who ever wins is assured of qualification for the 2006 World Cup finals.

"We have therefore come to entrust the Eelephants in your hands as God`s servant so that you can pray for victory against the Cameroonians on Sunday," Nouma told the prelate. The FIF president has made similar visits to other Ivorian religious leaders.

He also prayed God to hear his prayers so that on the evining of 4 September "there will be reconciliation among all Ivorians and so that the event marks the beginning of a national consensus."

Cote d`Ivoire is currently on top of group 3 with 19 points (+12) followed by Cameroon, which has 17 points (+7).

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