Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba, left, and Sio Giovanni, right, celebrate with their teammates after scoring a goal in a World Cup 2014 qualifying match between Ivory Coast and Senegal at Mohammed V stadium in Casablanca, Morocco, Saturday Nov. 16, 2013. (Photo: AP)
Didier Drogba knows his World Cup days are numbered and that Brazil 2014 could be his final chance to play in a World Cup knock-out game with Ivory Coast.
Drogba and his African underdogs have not exactly had the luck of the draw in their two previous finals appearances.
In 2006, they drew Argentina, Netherlands and Serbia and Montenegro in the first round. And in South Africa, the group stage opponents were Brazil, Portugal and North Korea. Ivory Coast are hoping the third time's the charm for their 33-year-old captain.
Sabri Lamouchi's team, however, is not just the long-time Chelsea and current Galatasaray striker Drogba.
Former Barcelona and current Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure was short-listed for the World footballer of the year award while his brother Kolo Toure has played in the Premier League for more than a decade.
And Salomon Kalou is a goal-getter for top French side Lille. Despite this level of quality, even the path to Brazil was more difficult than expected.
After very few problems in the group stage, Ivory Coast nearly were bounced in the play-offs against Senegal but Kalou scored in stoppage time to secure a World Cup berth for The Elephants.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
Short link: