As Chelsea striker snubs Elephants call

2012 CAN qualifiers

September 4

Ivory Coast  vs Rwanda
Benin   vs Burundi

AMAVUBI Stars defenders will be relieved with the news that they won’t be facing the threat of Didier Drogba in the upcoming 2012 Nations Cup qualifier after the Chelsea striker snubbed new coach Francois Zahoui’s call to the Elephants.

After rampant speculation in Abidjan about Drogba’s probable retirement from the national team, Zahoui had named Drogba in the provisional squad after the Ivorian FA sent an invitation to him.

Drogba had been left out of the squad that downed Italy in an international friendly in London earlier this month following a groin injury from which he was recuperating.

But now fit, strong and playing regularly with Chelsea, he will not feature against Rwanda, even after a summons letter was sent to him.

Neither Drogba nor the FA gave reasons for his absence, but sports journalists across the West African nation are suggesting that the Chelsea talisman wants to bring his international career to an end.

Zahoui has replaced Drogba with AS Monaco striker Yannick Sagbo while Manchester City’s Kolo Toure has been named as the skipper of the Elephants.

Asked yesterday if the team will benefit from Drogba’s absence, Amavubi Stars assistant coach Eric Nshimiyimana said, "Ivory Coast is not made up of only Drogba. There are some other players who are as good and play better game collectively,”

"We played Ivory Coast in January and luckily enough, we know how they play and we will be facing the same team which took part in the Nations’ Cup and maybe a few additions.

"We need to be confident and aim to get positive results in our away matches, starting with Ivory Coast,” said Nshimiyimana.

The Amavubi Stars will play a yet to be known team in their second build-up match early next week before they depart for the Ivory Coast tie on September 2.

Last Friday’s friendly match between Amavubi and Primus league side Police FC proved that Sellas Tetteh and his backroom staff still have tough challenge ahead of next Saturday.

A weak backline gifted Police a 2-all draw at Ferwafa grounds with center back Ismail Nshutinamagara putting the ball in his own net.

Left back Donatien Tuyisenge then compounded Amavubi’s woes with a clumsy challenge on Clementine Mukunzi inside the penalty box.

Hamis Kitagenda made no mistake as he sent goalkeeper Jean Luc Ndayishimiye a.k.a Bakame the wrong way.
Tetteh’s consolation was that the team managed to hit the back of the net after a long barren run.

Bienfait Kabanda scored the opener with a powerful header while Albert Nyumbayire equalised five minutes from time after pouncing on a cross from APR’s Jean Claude Iranzi.

The Group H qualifier will be played in Ivory Coast’s capital, Abidjan. Benin and Burundi, who complete the group, will also in action in Porto-Novo.

The 2012 event will be jointly hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Ends