Brighton's Simon Adingra relives his Ivory Coast AFCON glory

He was greeted by Ivory Coast’s head of state after starring in the nation’s success.

But such scenes would have been very hard to imagine when he left Selhurst Park in late December fearing his tournament might be over before it had even begun.

The Albion winger was injured in his side’s 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace.

His setback went under the radar compared to that of Kaoru Mitoma, who had the Asian Cup on his horizon.

Adingra went off at half-time, Mitoma during the second half.

The Japan winger was on crutches and had his lower leg encased in a protective boot as he walked past the waiting reporters.

But Adingra feared the worst at that moment.

Speaking to The Argus at the Amex yesterday, he said: “I think two days before the announcement of the squad, I got injured.

“In my mind I was like it’s going to be tough, maybe they are not going to call me.

“But then the coach trusted me and he called me.

“So at the beginning I was there training and as soon as I was ready the coach gave me a chance.

“Yes, I was worried (at Crystal Palace).

“I was thinking, ‘It’s finished, I’m not going to play because there are many players so the coach is going take another player’.”

Jean-Louis Gasset, the head coach who stuck with Adingra, was sacked after the group fixtures.

But his decision in that respect surely deserves credit given how things panned out.

Ivory Coast’s unique rout to glory has been well documented.

Adingra became more prominent and more decisive as the competition progressed.

He said: “You dream to have trophies so it is part of my dream.

“As a kid, I thought one day I’m going to be African champion and I am living my dream now.”

Players and staff at the Amex formed a guard of honour as Adingra, still weary from his journey, emerged from the tunnel and made his way on to the pitch.

He did not join in the session but will be keen to add more silverware to his African haul.

The winger said: “That’s the plan, that’s the purpose. I just have to be focused again and continue what I started.” 

As he spoke yesterday, he recognised people would be more aware of him now.

But Albion, and Premier League, watchers know the ‘secret’ has been emerging bit by bit for a few months.

Speaking via the club’s own social media platforms this week, Danny Welbeck said: “He took everybody by surprise.

“He came in in pre-season and he was small, fast, like a whippet.

“He came in, first session, just skilful, going past people, chopping them up and then he is showing it in the Premier League this season.”

Adingra started the season on the bench, scoring at home to Luton.

He had been a regular starter ever since the home game with Liverpool, in which he scored with a clever finish from outside the box.

That run ended at Palace and there might have been a sleepless night or two both then and when it looked like his nation would go out of the tournament before he had played more than a few minutes.

By the end, there was next to no sleep for good reasons.

After success in the final, a national holiday was declared.

The squad were paraded around Abidjan as they were cheered by adoring fans.

Then, on Tuesday, it was to the presidential palace to meet the head of state.

“I think I slept but not much,” Adingra said of that celebration period.

“It was amazing to see your own people happy - everyone.

“My mum was there, my sister, everyone was there.

“That is when you feel like you make a lot of people happy.”