The story of Simon Adingra is a stark reminder of the power of focus and resilience in the face of giving up in life.
The Africa Cup of Nations (#AFCON2023) concluded on February 11 with The Elephants of Ivory Coast stealing a dramatic and stunning victory against the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
The Elephants of Ivory Coast celebrating after beating Super Eagles of Nigeria 2-1 to win this year’s edition of AFCON. Images courtesy.
Ivory Coast’s journey to the final was, however, marked with hard work, dedication, determination and reliance on other teams and mathematics at some point.
They had to rely on results from other matches to determine their fate in the competition after a resounding and humiliating 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea in their final group game that threatened to eliminate them from the continental tournament on home soil.
Luckily, the Elephants sneaked back into the knockout phase as one of the best third-placed teams after Morocco won their final game of the group stages against Zambia.
Among those of Ivory Coast players who have stood out throughout this AFCON2023, Brighton’s 22-year-old winger Simon Adingra stands tall. His goal and assists have placed him at a level that many have adimired his skills and experience despite his young age.
Simon Adingra has literally been Ivory Coast’s secret weapon.
Simon Adingra in action for Ivory Coast against Nigeria. Photo courtesy.
His introduction in the Round of 16 against Senegal proved crucial as the home side forced the game into extra time and eventually won on penalties.
Adingra also played a significant role in the quarter-final game against Mali, which they won despite being a man down and a goal down. He forced the game into extra-time with a poacher’s goal in the 90th minute, and Oumar Diakite, another promising youngster, stole the winner at the death with a flick from Seko Fofana’s strike.
Adingra was awarded the Man of the Match in the semi-final against DR Congo and delivered two assists in the final against Nigeria.
A screenshot of Adingra responding to journalists after being named Man of the Match at the AFCON final.
However, there is a lot than just meet the eye on the story on this rising African football star. To him, it has been a journey of both pain and sweat.
Before becoming a Premier League player and earning a call up to the Ivory Coast national team, Simon Adingra had to go through ups and downs before realizing his dream.
When Simon Adingra12 years old, his family was duped of 300 Euros by a man who had promised to take him, and other youngsters from Ivory Coast, to a football academy in Benin. As things would turn out after the they arrived in Benin, there was no football academy and the kids had to literally find means to survive in a foreign country, doing menial jobs to get something to eat. “One day, a coach came to see my parents saying that he knew a good academy in Benin that needed young talents like me. My father, who has since passed away, always wanted me to become a footballer and agreed for me to leave. We had to pay a sum of around 300 Euros to this guy, and I left for Benin with nine other young Ivorians.” The rising football sensation said in an interview.
As things would turn out after the they arrived in Benin, there was no football academy and the kids had to literally find means to survive in a foreign country, doing menial jobs to get something to eat. “Except this guy was a crook. He made it all up and left with our money. There was no academy or accommodation for us there. All ten of us were in Benin, at the age of 12, left to our own devices without anyone’s help. We didn’t even have money to feed ourselves…There were then two possibilities: either return to Ivory Coast or wait and see if an opportunity came along We decided to all stay together and do odd jobs to start earning money, such as washing plates in restaurants in exchange for some money and meals.” Adingra added.
While planning to return home, Adingra and his friends met a man who identified their talents and started an academy with them. “One day, we were walking down the street and a guy who studied in Ivory Coast recognized our Ivorian accent. He was surprised to find around ten young Ivorians in Benin. We explained the situation to him, and he was scandalized by the conditions in which we lived. “He did everything to find us another house and had the idea of creating a small football academy with the nine young people and me. Over time, other players joined the center and it became a real academy in Benin.” he said.
He began to polish his talent at the Academy in Benin and got invited to a youth tournament in Ghana, where he caught the attention of recruiters from the “Right To Dream” Academy. One day he saw on the Internet that there was a tournament in Accra, Ghana, and we went to play there. I am still in contact with him; he actually came to see me play at Union-Zulte Waregem at the beginning of February, Adingra remarked.
The recruiters offered him a two-week test at their renowned training center, and Adingra stayed there for two years, playing with Kamaldeen Sulemana, who currently plays for Southampton, and Mohamed Kudus from Ajax (at West Ham Currently). He would later cross over to Europe for professional football.
Fast forward, the youngster who won the Man of the Match at the AFCON Final apart from lifting the AFCON cup with Ivory Coast in front of home fans got lucrative deals to play professional football and currently turns up the Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion.
Adingra alongside his captain kissing the AFCON trophy after beating the tournament’s favorite Nigeria at the final. Photo courtesy.
Beyond the accolades and achievements, the story of Simon Adingra is a stark reminder of the power of focus and resilience in the face of giving up in life. Despite the setbacks and hardships he faced along the way, he refused to be defeated, rising above adversity to achieve greatness on the football pitch.
