By Ramata Sore’
INTRODUCTION :
Didier Drogba, born March 11, 1978 in Abidjan, is much more than a footballer: he is a conscience in action, a profound voice that resonates far beyond the stadiums, a vibrant heart for Africa. From 2004 to 2012, and again in 2014-2015, he wrote one of the greatest epics for Chelsea FC, in England, scoring 164 goals, including the memorable one on May 19, 2012 in the final of the prestigious Champions League, an equalizer and a decisive penalty, giving Chelsea the first European title in its history.
Captain of the Ivory Coast Elephants, he carried the hopes of a people during three World Cups: 2006, 2010, 2014, and was crowned African player of the year in 2006. But, it was in October 2005 that his aura crossed the framework of sport: the day after a historic qualification for the World Cup, while his country, Ivory Coast, was cut in two, he implored, on his knees, the Ivorian belligerents to lay down their arms, a rare gesture, which temporarily suspended the civil war.
In 2007, he established the “Didier Drogba Foundation”, with headquarters in Abidjan and London, deploying his influence for education, health and the empowerment of African communities
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Since his retirement in 2018, he has embodied a figure of unity, commitment, and peace, and remains one of the continent’s most beloved faces. Drogba is not simply a name: he is a living memory, a pulse of hope, a watching star. In his eyes, the fire of a people and the tenderness of a father. He scored goals, yes, but above all, he left his mark on souls. This interview is not just about football. It is also a pilgrimage to what a man can become when he chooses to listen to his deepest truth. As such, Didier Drogba is much more than a legend: he is a presence, a gentle force, an inner voice that whispers silently.
Today, he no longer plays on grass. He plays for peace, justice, and love. And he delivers himself here, wholeheartedly, without detour or evasion, from London, England, where he lives. Meet us!
He spoke with Ramata Sore an experienced investigative,multi-lingual woman journalist who works and live in Bonn Germany, in an exclusive interview .
*From shadow to light: what promise did you make to yourself when you left Abidjan for France at the age of 5?*
When I left at the age of 5, there was no great philosophical promise. I was a little boy leaving his parents for a better life, a childhood dream. The only promise I made to myself was to make my father and mother proud, not to disappoint them, to work hard so that one day I could help them. It was a child’s promise, simple and pure. I could never have imagined that this uprooting, which was initially a trial, would give me this dual culture, this view of the world that not only shaped me, but also forged my unbreakable bond with Africa. This uprooting made me a bridge between two worlds.
*If you saw little Didier again right now, what would you whisper to him today?*
I would take him in my arms. I would tell him to never doubt, to always believe in his potential. I would tell him that the road will be long, filled with sacrifices and injuries, but that each trial is a lesson. I would tell him to never forget where he comes from, to keep his bare feet on the warm soil of Yopougon, even when he treads the lawns of the biggest stadiums. Above all, I would tell him that his greatest goal will not be to score, but to love and to serve.
*What does it really mean to be a legend? Have you ever felt alone at the top?*
Being a legend isn’t about trophies or millions. It’s about the echo you leave in people’s hearts. It’s the legacy you build, not the one you leave. I often felt alone at the top. The weight of responsibility, the pressure, the distance from family… We celebrate your victories on the field, but you’re alone in your doubts. And it was in those moments of solitude that I understood that true wealth wasn’t the echo of glory, but the strength of my heart.
*What is the dream you never dared to reveal to anyone?*
My secret dream is not football, but to one day have a totally autonomous African continent, where peace is the only rule and education the only religion. I dream of an Africa that no longer reaches out, but stands proudly, where young people no longer need to cross dangerous seas to seek a future. This dream obsesses me, because it is the driving force behind everything I undertake.
*You say you dream of a standing, autonomous, and proud Africa. If you had to choose three seeds to sow today to make this dream a reality in twenty years, what would they be, and how would you protect them from drought and the storms of political and social life?*
If I had to choose only three, I would say:
The seed of quality education: not an education that is limited to learning, but an education that instills an awareness of oneself, one’s history, and one’s potential. An education that does not train mere workers, but builders.
The seed of peace and reconciliation: for without peace, nothing is possible. This seed is nourished by dialogue, acceptance of others, justice, and remembrance. It must be protected by teaching children the importance of unity and forgiveness from an early age.
The seed of entrepreneurship and innovation: autonomy comes from the ability to create wealth oneself. This seed must be watered by support, fair financing, and policies that encourage young people to dare, to undertake, and not to fear failure.
To protect these seeds from political and social storms, we must plant them in the hearts of young people. Because once these values are anchored in them, no storm can tear them away. Youth are our bulwark, our hope, and it is in them that the future lies.
*In your commitment to health and education… have you experienced any resistance? What fight do you still have to fight?*
Yes, the resistance is there, it’s real, political, and corporate. The desire to empower people is sometimes perceived as a threat by those who have an interest in keeping them dependent. The fight I still have to fight is one of perseverance, of never giving up, of continuing to build schools and clinics, of providing the tools so that young people can rise up on their own. Realizing this vision is a daily struggle, and it’s never truly over.
*Have you ever had the intuition that some sporting victories are guided by invisible forces?*
Absolutely. I never felt alone on the pitch. There were matches, moments when I felt a force that transcended me. The goal of May 19, 2012, in the Champions League final, is the most striking example. It wasn’t just me who scored, it was the strength of a people, the energy of an entire continent, of my ancestors, that carried me. I always believed that I was a channel for something larger, that my mission didn’t stop at a single match.
*What role do you think you played: that of the warrior, the healer, the ferryman or the silent prophet?*
I believe I’ve been a bit of all four. I’ve been a warrior on the field, fighting for every ball, every victory. I’ve been a healer with my call for peace. I’ve been a bridge-builder, bridging cultures and generations. And today, I’m a silent prophet, sowing seeds of peace, knowledge, and hope through my foundation, for a better future.
*The silence after a career is sometimes more deafening than the roar of the crowd. What is your personal ritual?*
The silence can be deafening, yes, but it’s also where I find myself. My ritual is simple: I isolate myself, I connect with my roots, I recharge with my family. I return to Côte d’Ivoire, to walk on the land of my ancestors, to feel the pulse of my people. It is in silence that I detach myself from the icon to rediscover the man, Didier, with his doubts and his dreams.
*Fame is a difficult mask to remove. Have you found a space where you can be 100% authentic?*
Fame is a form of armor we wear, but it’s not a mask that has been stolen from me. I’ve managed to keep my inner Didier, the simple man who loves to laugh and share. I find this space of truth with my family and my childhood friends. That’s where I can be vulnerable, free. My children see me as their father, not as a giant. That’s what brings me back to the essentials.
*Is your new love life aligned with the inner truth you have discovered?*
I believe that a successful relationship is built on truth and mutual respect. Life is a journey of evolution. I have always believed in the power of a couple, a partnership where we support each other and grow together, in truth and respect for fundamental values.
*What inner legacy do you want to leave to your offspring?*
I want to leave them a legacy of dignity, strength of character, and love for Africa. Money and fame fade away. But values, the ability to fight for what is right, to reach out to others, to honor one’s roots, that remains forever. I want them to be proud to be African, to be people of heart and conviction.
*How do you see the emergence of a generation of young African leaders, shaped not only by knowledge and competence, but by righteousness, service and transparency?*
I see this generation as an unstoppable force. For it to emerge, we must give it the necessary tools. It is not enough to train experts; we must train men and women of heart, conscience, and conviction. This requires exemplary leadership. We need elders who show them that integrity is not weakness, that service is not submission, and that transparency is the only path to trust. This new generation must be driven by love for others and for the nation.
*On October 8, 2005, you begged the belligerents in the political crisis in Ivory Coast to lay down their arms. What invisible wounds did you have to carry with you afterward?*
This call was a cry from the heart, a moment of pure emotion. But it also created invisible wounds. The political weight of this act was heavy to bear. I had hopes, frustrations, and a sense of pain at seeing that peace remained fragile. It’s a wound that can’t be seen, but it remains within me, a scar of a responsibility I had never sought.
*Didier, your cry for peace touched hearts but left you with invisible scars. Today, with a new platform, what words, more lasting and more deeply rooted in the Ivorian soul, would you choose to pronounce?*
My words would not be a cry, but a whisper. I would no longer speak to the belligerents, but I speak to families, to mothers, to children:
“Peace cannot be decreed; it must be lived. It is built in homes, in schools, in villages, because unity is not uniformity; it is the strength of our differences. Let us never forget where we come from, and always honor those who have suffered. My message is one of hope and perseverance.”
*If the force that carried you to the goal in the Champions League final became your companion in leading a country, how would you invite it to walk with you in every decision, every law, every action?*
This strength is not mine, it is that of an entire people. To invite them to walk with me in leading a country would be to listen to them. It would be to make the voice of the people my guide. Every decision, every law, every action would be inspired by the needs, dreams, and hopes of Ivorians. Listening, empathy, love for others—this is the strength that has carried me, and it is the only strength that can lead a nation toward a just and prosperous future.
*What is your personal view of today’s Ivory Coast and what role do you feel called to play?*
I look at Côte d’Ivoire with immense love, but also great concern. Young people are disillusioned, and crises are recurrent. But I also see immense strength and incredible resilience. I feel called to be a bridge, a unifier, a voice that continues to preach unity and dialogue. My role is to work for the education and health of these young people, to give them the means to build a solid future, to help them regain hope.
*Beyond Ivory Coast, what is your message to the people of West Africa?*
My message is simple: unity is our only strength. In this era of coups, manipulation, and information wars, we must not allow ourselves to be divided. We must come together and speak with one voice. Africa is a young continent, full of potential. Let no one tell us that we are incapable of taking charge of ourselves. The solution lies within us, in our collective strength and our love for one another.
*What message do you live in your heart and that you now wish to embody?*
The message I live and wish to embody is that of love. A love that is a gentle force, that is not naive, but that is the only solid foundation on which to build. The love that builds nations, that creates bridges, that heals the wounds of the past. If I were to whisper it to the universe, I would say: ” Love your neighbor as yourself, for that is the only key to a common future. ”
*What profound calling have you already received, but have not yet followed? Why?*
The call to fully engage in politics is one I have received on several occasions, but I have always rejected it. I recognize that it is an immense mission, but it is also a complex terrain, filled with challenges that can distract me from my main objective: to be a voice for young people and the voiceless. I fear that the power game will rob me of my freedom of speech, my sincerity. It is a mission I reject, because I believe my fight is more effective outside of political arenas.
Have you considered that your greatest legendary achievement might not be the goal that thrilled the world, but to be the leader of an entire generation of awakened, upright, and responsible Africans, who would say: “It was Didier who showed us that governing can be an act of love” by reinventing its rules, by reinventing a leadership built on conscience, transparency, honesty, and accountability, transforming not only politics, but also those who serve it?
I hadn’t thought of it in those terms, but your words resonate with me like a prophecy. If my greatest achievement could be showing a generation that governing is an act of love, then my life would have a meaning far greater than football. I have always believed that love is the most powerful force in the world. And if I can be the one who, through my actions, my values, and my commitment, could inspire leaders to govern with love, conscience, and transparency, then I would be the happiest man in the world.
*If a child were to read a book about your life, what message would you want them to take away?*
I would like him to remember that greatness is not measured by trophies, but by scars. I would like him to remember that my failures taught me more than my victories, that my tears made me stronger. I would like him to understand that my invisible choices, those made out of love, are the most important. I would like him to read a book about a man who always loved Africa, and who always believed in humanity, because that is true victory. Thank you again for this wonderful opportunity to open up.
The soul of a giant doesn’t always need cleats to excel. Even though Didier Drogba has left the stadiums, he still remains on the pitch. He plays for tomorrow, for the children he loves, for a continent he embodies. He walks without a veil. With an open heart.
Through him, Africa no longer begs: it rises. And Côte d’Ivoire, the country where he was born, vibrates to the rhythm of a policy that intends to restore dignity to the people, dignity especially to many political actors.
And with a “national team of conscience” where each minister plays his role with passion, discipline and love for the jersey, the jersey here being the Ivorian nation, animated by love for the other. And if we listen carefully, we hear, in the words of Didier Drogba and his government team, “love built our nation” .
