The 2017 African Cup Of Nations kicks off in Gabon this weekend, and we are hopping on board the bandwagon.
Cote d'Ivoire have perhaps the most recognisable squad for fans of the Premier League and Champions League in this part of the world, but there are so many more reasons to get behind 'Les Elephants' when they get their campaign underway against Togo on Monday the 16th of January.
In fact, there are seven of them, and here they are:
1. Their flag is our flag backwards.
I mean... Come on.
Our backwards-flag-brothers love the green white and orange as much as we do, and we'll see countless Irish flags on show from the crowd in Gabon as they make the same mistake we always do when hoisting a flag above our heads and not realising the perspective from which it will be seen.
While we have our reasons for our tricolour being the way it is, educate yourself as to why theirs is:
Modeled on the French Tricolour, the flag of the former colonial power. The colours chosen for the Côte d'Ivoire's flag were also used by Niger, with which the Côte d'Ivoire had an alliance.
They were intended to symbolise the following: the orange colour stands for the land, the savannah found in the northern part and its fertility, the white represents peace, and the green represents hope and also the forest of the southern part of the country.
There you have it, a total coincidence, and one that should be celebrated.
2. The legend of Boubacar Barry.
While he is not playing at this year's tournament having announced his international retirement, his legend lives on.
Barry became a worldwide sensation after his match-winning heroics two years ago, as he slotted home the winning penalty in the 2015 AFCON final, which was a batshit insane affair.
Add to that the fact that he often eats grass in celebration of goals, looks a bit like Tupac Shakur, and his name is bloody Barry, and you've got all the ingredients for a legend around these parts.
3. Their jerseys are unreal.
This reason is enough on it's own, look at them, absolutely magnificent. COYBIO!
4. Eric Bailly is an Irishman's name.
Manchester United fans have been loving him since his arrival from Villarreal last summer, but now you can too, because he sounds like the son of a butcher from Castletroy.
While he would rather we pronounce his name correctly, as in 'Ba-yee', he'll be too busy playing in the tournament to worry about us calling him Bailey.
If only Barry was still going strong, still, Eric Bailly only faces compeition from Ghana's John Boye for the most Irish sounding name at the tournament.
5. They are the tournament favourites.
We're always following the underdog, wouldn't it be nice to support a team that claims actual victories rather than exclusively 'moral' ones?
Admittedly this is the least convincing reason, it's just that it would be nice to see them go all the way, again.
6. We owe them one after all that Westboro Baptist Church carry on.
After the gay marriage referendum when Ireland basked in the adoration of the Western world, those morons at the Westboro Baptist Church decided to take aim at the Cote d'Ivoire for no particular reason other than their lack of knowledge and total ignorance to the existence of the country.
They didn't need that sort of heat, and while we were not responsible for it in any way, shape, or form, we should still back the lads as a show of support.
7. They have never, even beaten us in an international fixture.
Thus, we have had no reason to find something to be bitter about.
If, like us, the existance of Dudu Aouate is enough to put you off ever wanting to see Israel win a game of football ever again, then you'll be aware that we have no petty beef with the Ivorians.
Granted, we've never, ever played them, but if we did we're sure they'd be sound.
So that's it, our rallying call to get behind the Ivory Coast in this year's African Cup Of Nations. The tournament will be as entertaining as it always is, but this time we're going to be showing more love to Les Elephants as they look to retain their title.
Best of luck lads, bring it home for the green, white, and orange, whatever order you place them in.
