From a life-threatening illness to scoring the winner in the AFCON showdown in just a few years – that has been the life of Sebastien Haller, the Borussia Dortmund and Ivory Coast striker who has made it through a nightmare, a genuine horror, to become a true hero both on and off the pitch.In the interview with The Athletic, Haller revealed many interesting and until-now lesser-known facts about his battle and the crucial moments that have shaped up his character during the process.Heartwarming welcome for AFCON hero Haller from his BVB teammatesAfter completing the BVB deal, during their pre-season training camp in Switzerland in 2022, Haller complained about an ‘annoying’ pain around his abdomen.”I checked a few times with my physio and we tried different things, but it never went away,” Haller said. “When I was with Dortmund, I asked the doctors if it was possible to have an (echocardiogram) and they saw something that was putting pressure on my abdomen.”I had an MRI scan the next day and they found the tumour. They needed to check if it was malignant or benign. We checked after training and within 30 seconds, the doctor said, ‘You need to get surgery and we can get started today or tomorrow’.”I said, ‘OK, but exactly what is it?’. Then I knew it was cancer. This is a strong word and it scares everyone – no one wants to have it – but once you have cancer, you have more knowledge about it.”##NAJAVA_MECA_7971624##From Testicular Cancer to AFCON Final: Sebastian Haller reflectsHaller underwent an operation to remove the tumour and started chemotherapy, which involved five-day stints in hospital hooked up to a catheter. He had three rounds of treatment and a second surgical procedure to extract the residual findings from the tumour.”You become another person but you don’t even realise,” he says. “You try to act the best you can, but you’re suffering. The people around you try to hide their sadness and emotion, but it is difficult.”You become less patient, angrier and more emotional. When everyone tries to hide their emotions and change the way they act it becomes complicated – communication is everything.”Life is a miracle! Cancer survivor Haller scores a stunning late winner for Ivory Coast’s AFCON titleAfter making his full recovery by December 2022, he scored eight goals in ten Bundesliga games as Dortmund was getting closer to winning the Bundesliga title for the first time in a decade. However, they failed, drawing 2-2 at home to Mainz as Haller missed the penalty, while Bayern Munich scored a last-gasp winner to clinch another title.”It was the biggest disappointment I have had in football,” Haller explained. “It was harder to accept than my illness because I could have an impact on it. I was not just a victim but an actor. It was so painful.”In these moments, you realise you are lucky and blessed to have family and friends around you. If I was by myself, I would have probably stayed in the ground for one week and not moved.”##NAJAVA_MECA_7971249##Haller switched nationality and in November 2020 made his debut for Ivory Coast in a 2-1 victory over Madagascar. Before that, he represented France at every youth level.”When I was with West Ham, I hadn’t played for France for a few years. I was speaking with the (Ivory Coast) coach, Patrice Beaumelle, because he wanted me to come and play. As a father, I wanted to get closer to my Ivorian origins, so I said, ‘Maybe this is the time. Things are changing. I can be useful to this team. Why not win something? It could be a beautiful story’.”And it truly unfolded the best possible way for both Haller and his homeland…”I don’t even know how it was possible,” Haller says. “It’s just destiny. We can try to explain it but the truth is that we don’t control anything.”
