Ivorians say God is on their team's side after 'miracles' at Africa Cup

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Ivory Coast’s unlikely — some would say miraculous — progression to the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals has convinced locals that God is on their side. “It’s a miracle of God.” At the Chapelle de l’externat Saint Paul for a service hours before Wednesday's semifinal against Congo, many worshipers wore the national team's distinctive orange jersey. Its federation fired the team’s coach after a 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea left it on the verge of elimination, then unsuccessfully tried to hire another coach when results in other games meant Ivory Coast squeezed into the last 16 with the last available qualification spot. “It’s thanks to God,” said Yama Cambera, a vendor selling water and refreshments at the side of the road in Treichville, Abidjan.