BRASILIA, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos Thursday predicted the national team's 2-1 victory over Cote d'Ivoire, as part of a 2014 World Cup group phase match.
In comments to the press after a breakfast meeting with Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff, in the capital Brasilia, Santos said he was confident the team would go on to qualify for the next round of 16.
"The national team is at the moment a symbol of national unity, and the coach and the players have 47 million Colombians rooting for them," Santos said, in an encouraging message to coach Jose Pekerman and the lineup.
Hours after Santos made his prediction, the team went on to beat Cote d'Ivoire 2-1 at Brasilia's Mane Garrincha Stadium.
Santos said he decided to travel to Brasilia with his family to support the team, which was also cheered on by a large contingent of Colombian fans in the bleachers.
Santos, who was reelected to a second term on June 15, also congratulated Rousseff on the organization of the World Cup, saying "everything is turning out fantastic."
On Monday, Rousseff called Santos, who ran on a platform of peace building and reconciliation with Colombia's armed leftist rebels, to congratulate his election victory.
"Colombian society clearly opted for peace," she said during the call.
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