Ivory Coast must beat Benin in Sunday's 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier to give their compatriots some good news, with up to a million people fleeing post-election violence, said the Ivory team’s captain, Drogba.

The 33 year-old, who has often said that success on the football pitch could bring the people of Ivory Coast together, added he wished they had been able to play their 'home' match in Abidjan as a symbolic gesture, but it had been decided by the African Football Confederation (CAF) that it was too risky.

"Winning is not only important for qualification, but also to give some comfort to our compatriots who are living through a difficult time at the moment," said Drogba on Saturday.

"We would have preferred to play as scheduled in Abidjan in order to support our public, but, alas it was not to be.

"The match will not be easy. They are opponents we know well and who cause us problems. But we have to win."

Drogba, who has been the leader of the 'Elephants' in their most successful spell, which has seen them reach successive World Cup finals and the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations final, also called on the Ghanaian public to support Chelsea team-mate Michael Essien.

The Ghanaian playmaker - who missed the World Cup finals last year because of injury - has been shaken up recently by the man he believed to be his father, calling into question whether he really is his son.

"I ask of you not to cast him adrift," said Drogba, whose place at Chelsea after being part of three title winning sides is in doubt with the arrival of Fernando Torres.

Sunday's match is in Accra because it is regarded as too risky to host matches in Abidjan because of the bitter stand-off for the presidency after the disputed 28 November presidential poll.

Violence between the armed forces of internationally recognised President Alassane Ouattara and strongman Laurent Gbagbo has heightened as the stalemate nears the four-month mark.