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African Cup of Nations: Ivory Coast’s Drogba to collect 50th cap against Mali
Mon. January 28, 2008 10:24 am.- By Bonny Apunyu. -
(SomaliNet) Determined to improve on a remarkable return of 31 goals at international level, Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba will earn his 50th cap against Mali in the African Nations Cup on Tuesday.
The Chease player, who steered his country to the final of the last edition in 2006, has achieved a remarkable goal average of 0.6 goals per game for his country since his first cap against South Africa in 2002.
Drogba netted his first of the tournament in Ghana on Friday against Benin, opening the scoring in a 4-1 win that ensured the Elephants became the first side to reach the quarter-finals.
"I'd been waiting since the first game to score so it was very nice to get on the score sheet against Benin. I was very happy to get that behind me," he said after the victory in Sekondi.
"We had to be patient against Benin but after we scored at half-time it became easier for us."
The Ivorians will make sure of top place in Group B with a draw against Mali, likely avoiding a match-up with hosts Ghana in the last eight.
But Drogba said the Ivorians were not bothered by possible permutations.
"We have no preferences of opponent for the quarter-finals. If you want to become the champion of Africa you have to beat the big teams in the competition.
"Our priority is to keep on working, and our next objective is the next confrontation against Mali," he added.
Drogba won his first cap in September 2002 in an African Nations Cup qualifier in South Africa and scored his first international goal in his second appearance, a friendly against Cameroon in France in February 2003. –Reuters
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