Thousands welcome Ivory Coast

The Ivory Coast team are mobbed on their return to Abidjan

Ivory Coast, the beaten African Cup of Nations finalists, returned home to a rapturous welcome on Saturday.

Several thousand fans were at the airport to greet The Elephants, the day after they lost out to hosts Egypt 4-2 on penalties in the final of the Nations Cup.

'You have lost but we remain proud of you,' adorned many of the banners displayed by the fans, whose only salvation from the political turmoil in their country comes from the football team which brings together the north and the south albeit briefly.

The fans fought to catch a glimpse of the squad - who beat bitter rivals Cameroon and Nigeria on their way to the final - with people climbing onto roofs of cars and on the shoulders of friends.

The Ivory Coast goalkeeper Jean-Jacques Tizie was overcome by their reception.

"We weren't expecting such an extraordinary welcome," Tizie said.

"That only goes to prove the unique bond between the people and the team."

The team were according to a presidential source set to meet President Laurent Gbagbo - who gave them a house each after they qualified for the World Cup finals - in his palace after taking a motorcade through the capital.

Ivorian police desperately tried to clear a way for the motorcade as it threatened to be swamped by the crowds.

It took four hours for it to edge its way through to the main stadium - several supporters tried to climb onto the truck and shake hands with the players, who were smiling - where hundreds more fans awaited them.