Soccer
Drogba out of Bafana clash
2011-11-07 21:17
Johannesburg - Ivory Coast coach Francois Zahoui on Monday published a final roster for the Nelson Mandela Challenge against South Africa on November 12, without Chelsea’s forward Didier Drogba.
The Elephants captain will be rested for the event following a recent surgery he undertook to remove screws inserted in a previous operation from his arm.
The 19-man squad is composed of Ivory Coast’s top professionals including Arsenal’s Gervinho, the Toure brothers of Manchester City and Chelsea’s winger Salomon Kalou.
However, West Ham right back Guy Demel was also sidelined, while Newastle’s Cheick Tiote and the team’s master dribble Kader Keita of Al Saad were not summoned.
The Challenge is held annually to raise funds for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, and South African Football Association (SAFA) will donate a cheque of one-million-rand (€92 000) to the Fund.
The Ivorian coach intends to use the clash to put his house in order ahead of the looming 2012 African Cup of Nations.
Ivory Coast squad:
Goalkeepers: Boubacar Barry (Lokeren), Gnanhouan Gerard (Avranches), Daniel Yeboah (Asec)
Defenders: Benjamin Angoua (Valenciennes), Souleiman Bamba (Leicester), Emmanuel Eboue (Galatasary), Igor Lolo (Kuban), Siaka Tiene (PSG), Kolo Toure (Manchester City), Didier Zokora(Trabzonspor)
Midfielders: Jean-Jacques Gosso (Orduspor), Max Gradel (Saint-Etienne), Coulibaly Kafoumba (Nice), Didier Ya Konan (Hanover), Yaya Toure (Manchester City)
Forwards: Wilfried Bony (Vitesse), Seydou Doumbia (CSKA Moscow), Gervinho (Arsenal), Salomon Kalou (Chelsea)