Cote d’Ivoire midfielder Jean Michael Seri said his role in the Elephants’ Africa Cup of Nations success has even caught the imagination of his young family.
In a heartwarming moment, the football champion shared his children’s excitement, recounting his five-year-old daughter calling him a champion.
Reflecting on the remarkable victory, he expressed disbelief and shed tears upon realizing the trophy was staying home, emphasizing the unique emotions football evokes.
“I have children aged 10, eight, and five,” he told BBC Look North.
“Even my daughter, who’s five, knows about it. She said: ‘Daddy, you’re a champion!’ It was a memorable moment.
“It was just amazing, exceptional. I couldn’t believe it. After the final, I saw the trophy and I realised it was staying at home. I shed a tear. Brilliant. Only football can give you these kinds of emotions.”
Seri, a key figure in Fulham’s promotion to the Premier League in 2021-22, is now determined to add another promotion with Hull City to his accolades.
Having made 33 league appearances, his return to the squad from AFCON 2023 duty coincided with Hull’s impressive away win over Southampton, propelling them to the sixth spot in the Championship.
Anticipating this to be the pinnacle of his career, Seri envisions the year unfolding in a special and positive manner.
As he sets his sights on promotion to the Premier League with Hull, the midfielder’s journey continues to be fueled by the profound emotions that only football can evoke.
“It’s going to become the best year in my career,” Seri added. “I believe this year is going to be special, in the right way.
“We can do it. In terms of my career, there were some good moments, but this one is going to be the best one ever since I started playing.
“I was champion with Fulham, but the way we’ll get promoted here will be different.”
Seri played four games for Cote d’Ivoire as they triumphed as hosts of the AFCON 2023 tournament. He named man of the match when they beat defending champions Senegal in the Round of 16.
