African Sports Monthly Mar, 2015 | Page 32

For over a decade he led his national team from one Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to another, in the hope of winning the Holy Grail of trophies on the continent. During each of the last 5 AFCON tourneys, Drogba and his fellow Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire were favored to walk away with the trophy but sadly those predictions by the pundits were like a mirage. The dreams of Ivorian victory never came to pass.

Therefore in 2014, Didier Drogba decided to walk away from a successful international career. A very proud Elephant, who was punctured by failure to win a major trophy with his team.

Over the last decade he was the face of Ivory Coast and African football. Drogba deserved the accolades because of his skill and his resume on the international stage, which included talismanic performances that ended Chelsea FC’s trophy drought when they won the UEFA Champions League in 2013. The lone goal by Drogba himself.

Along with other well known players like the new face of Ivory Coast and African football Yaya Toure, his brother Kolo, Gervinho, Salomon Kalou and more, he is part of group dubbed ‘The Golden Generation’ of Ivory Coast football.

And that they have truly been as they ply their craft dazzling fans of the beautiful game year in year out. For that reason, they have been expected to hoist several AFCON trophies but woefully underachieved till 2015. Drogba was the leading face amongst the lot.

Like Moses in the Bible who led the Israelites out of bondage and took them on a journey to the Promised Land, Drogba led his national team and compatriots of global football professionals. And like Moses, who did not get to reach the promised land, he did not get to experience the joy of raising an AFCON trophy with those he walked with for years in the desert of ‘trophy less’ football.

Nevertheless, Didier Drogba will forever be seared into our collective memories for his consummate skill and charismatic personality. African Sports Monthly celebrates him and his accomplishments as a living legend of African Sports for this March 2015 Issue.

An African Legend