Johannesburg - Football fans in Ivory Coast share an uncanny confidence that Didier Drogba, broken arm or not, will be playing for the national team at the World Cup.
Gervais Coulibaly, sitting in a dirt-floored bar in Adjame, a working class neighborhood in Abidjan says, "there's no doubt in my mind."
The Ivory Coast captain, who broke a bone in his arm during a World Cup warm-up match against Japan last Friday, has almost God-like status in this impoverished west African nation, which is still struggling to end a political crisis sparked by a failed coup d'etat almost eight years ago.
We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.