Gadji Celi was a professional football player and singer-songwriter from Ivory Coast. He began his soccer career with the Stella Club of Abidjan in 1983 and later became the captain of the national team in 1992. Celi was known for his sharp playing on the field and his songwriting skills off the field, where he wrote songs inspired by soccer teams participating in the annual African Cup competition. Celi's reputation as a songwriter continued to grow, and he wrote hits such as "Et Dieu Crea l'Asec," "Egypt 86," "Morocco 88," and "Algeria 90." He eventually transitioned into writing more romantic-themed songs, and in 2000, he was a finalist in the Best Arrangement category of the KORA All-Africa Awards. Gadji Celi remains a well-respected musician.