Salomon Kalou Named to Ivory Coast Side

August 10th, 2006 | by: WC Bob | View Comments

After unsuccessfully trying to acquire Dutch citizenship in time for the World Cup, new Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou has been called up to play for Ivory Coast next week when the Elephants take on Senegal in a friendly.

Kalou, who was born in the African country, had lived in the Netherlands for a number of years but was denied citizenship this summer. Kalou has turned down offers to play for Ivory Coast in the past, but it is evident he has given up hope of ever playing for Holland.

He moved to Chelsea from the Dutch side Feyenoord this summer. His brother, Bonaventure, played for Ivory Coast’s World Cup squad in Germany. Here is Ivory Coast’s complete squad for the Senegal friendly.

Goalkeepers: Boubacar Barry (Beveren, Belgium), Stephane Loboue (Greuther Furth, Germany)

Defenders: Arthur Boka (Racing Strasbourg, France), Guy Demel (Hamburg SV, Germany), Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal, England), Steve Gohouri (Young Boys Berne, Switzerland), Abdoulaye Meite (Bolton Wanderers, England), Kolo Toure (Arsenal, England)

Midfielders: Kanga Akale (AJ Auxerre, France), Emerse Fae (FC Nantes, France), Christian Manfredini (Lazio, Italy), Gneri Yaya Toure (Monaco, France), Didier Zokora (Tottenham Hotspur, England)

Forwards: Aruna Dindane (Racing Lens, France), Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou (Chelsea, England), Abdelkader Keita (Lille, France), Arouna Kone (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), Christian Koffi N’Dri (Le Mans, France), Boubacar Sanogo (Hamburg SV, Germany).