The Ivory Coast will travel to South Africa without their captain. Didier Drogba, Chelsea striker, was injured in a friendly match between the Elephants and the Japanese national team before the World Cup. This blow could prove damaging to Côte d’Ivoire at the 2010 World Cup.
Didier Drogba, the emblematic captain of the Elephants, will not participate in the World Cup. The Ivorian national team and their coach, Sven Goran Eriksson will have to come to terms with going to South Africa without their main man.
Japan have not only become a nightmare to the Ivorian team but also a very bad omen. After the Ivorians failed to score against the Nippon boys twice in the past, fate has smiled on their scoreline this time around. But something had to give. Unfortunately it is the core of their soul, their totemic striker and captain, Didier Drogba, who has been unfairly sacrificed in a simple warm up game ahead of the much awaited World Cup.
Didier Drogba today, Friday, sustained an injury to his forearm as the Elephants played against the Japan national team in a friendly match in Switzerland.
Medical report
Six minutes after opening the scoreline in the 11th minute, the Blues striker was carried away from his teammates with an injury to his right arm. He was immediately sent to a hospital near the stadium to determine the exact nature of his injury.
And Ivorians did not have to hold their breath for long: The World Cup for Côte d’Ivoire will be without Didier Drogba. After medical examination, the player confirmed to L’Equipe that he won’t be playing at the World Cup. His medial report shows a fracture of the ulna of the right arm.
A collision with a Japanese defence in the 17th minute sent Didier Drogba to the ground where he remained glued before being carried away. The match’s 2-0 scoreline for the Africans remains anecdotal.
Meanwhile, Sven Goran Eriksson, Côte d’Ivoire’s Swedish coach, still has some time to recall a player to replace the talented striker.
