Didier Drogba Named in Ivory Coast’s ACN Squad

The good news today is that Didier Drogba could very well take part in the African Cup of Nations next month. The Chelsea striker was named in Uli Stielike’s preliminary 26 man Ivory Coast squad today after his dodgy knee went under the knife over the weekend. Chelsea boss Avram Grant has indicated Drogba will be ready to play in about three weeks, meaning Double D will rehabilitate and then head for Ghana with his Ivory Coast teammates. Great news for Drogba, great news for The Elephants, and great news for the African Cup of Nations as a whole. It might even be good news for Chelsea.

Here’s the optimistic view from a Chelsea perspective. By not putting up a fight in this classic club vs country scenario Chelsea may have shown enough class and loyalty to persuade Drogba to stay on for a few more seasons. And while there’s a risk of their man re-injuring himself, there’s also a good chance he’ll return to Stamford Bridge post ACN 2008 match-fit and in good spirits. Similarly, the African Cup of Nations is that much more exciting with a striker of Drogba’s calibre involved.

Ivory Coast were runners up to Egypt in 2006, and a look at their preliminary squad, packed with European based talent, suggests they’re more than capable of going one better in 2008.

Goalkeepers:
Boubacar Barry (Lokeren, Belgium)
Tiasse Kone (Africa Sports)
Stephan Loboue (SpVgg Greuther Furth, Germany)

Defenders:
Athur Boka (VfB Stuttgart, Germany)
Guy Demel (Hamburg SV, Germany)
Constant Djakpa (Pandurii Targu Jiu, Romania)
Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal, England)
Steve Gohouri (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Germany)
Abdoulaye Meite (Bolton Wanderers, England)
Kolo Toure (Arsenal, England)
Marc Zoro (Benfica, Portugal)

Midfielders:
Emerse Fae (Reading, England)
Christian Koffi Ndri (Le Mans, France)
Siaka Tiene (St Etienne, France)
Gilles Yapi Yapo (Young Boys Berne, Switzerland)
Gneri Yaya Toure (Barcelona, Spain)
Didier Zokora (Tottenham Hotspur, England)

Strikers:
Aruna Dindane (Racing Lens, France)
Amara Diane (Paris St Germain, France)
Didier Drogba (Chelsea, England)
Salomon Kalou (Chelsea, England)
Abdelkader Keita (Olympique Lyon, France)
Arouna Kone (Sevilla, Spain)
Bakary Kone (Nice, France)
Gervais Yao Kouassi (Le Mans, France)
Boubacar Sanogo (Werder Bremen, Germany)

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