Renowned former French footballer, Djibril Cissé, has found himself at the center of a social media storm following an interview with Nouvelle Chaîne Ivoirienne. Misleading statements attributed to Cissé, suggesting he felt “more Ivorian than French,” were widely circulated, prompting the striker to vehemently refute the false claims.
Cissé, a former striker for the French national team, took to his official social media account to address the misinformation and offer a categorical denial.
“Questioning my love for France? Who exactly do you think you are? I love France and I love the Ivory Coast,” he asserted, accompanying his statement with a video excerpt from the contentious interview.
In the video clip, the 42-year-old explicitly states, “I am Franco-Ivorian. I didn’t have the chance to wear the Ivory Coast jersey, but my love and my attachment to this country have always existed.
Whether culinary or musical… it has always been part of my life.” The media outlet, Onze Mondial, which played a role in spreading the false information on social networks, promptly acknowledged its mistake, issuing an erratum to rectify the situation.
Djibril Cissé, boasting 41 caps for the French national team and nine goals for the Blues, has a rich football legacy.
He was the top scorer in Ligue 1 in 2002 and 2004 with AJ Auxerre and clinched the Champions League title in 2005 with Liverpool. Cissé made a notable return to Auxerre last summer, joining Christophe Pélissier’s staff in Ligue 2 to mentor attackers.
Currently, he serves as a consultant for the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) on the Ivorian channel NCI, alongside the legendary Didier Drogba.
This clarification aims to put an end to the unwarranted controversy surrounding Cissé’s national allegiance.
A quel moment j ai dis ca?????🤔🤔🤔🤔🤮🤮🤮 pic.twitter.com/dUYCQTeCMj
— Djibril Cisse (@DjibrilCisse) February 10, 2024
