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ABIDJAN, June 1 (Reuters) - Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure took the Champions League trophy he won with Barcelona to his native Abidjan on Monday, the first stop on a three-nation tour with the club's African players.
Toure was greeted by crowds of people in Ivory Coast's main city where he also met the president.
The trophy is also due to go to Mali and Cameroon, the other African nations to produce players who helped the Catalan club beat Manchester United last week.
Many of Africa's top players play for top clubs in Europe while the game in their home nations struggles.
"My next target is the continental trophy, the African Cup of Nations," Toure told reporters as he dedicated the trophy to his country, which remains mired in political turmoil after a 2002-03 war left it divided.
At least 19 people were killed and another 132 were injured at a World Cup qualifying match there in March.
After Ivory Coast, the trophy will be taken to Seydou Keita's Mali and Cameroon, home country of striker Samuel Eto'o who scored the opening goal in Barcelona's 2-0 win in Rome.
