adminalone, away from his Ivory Coast teammates. The 34-year-old captain is deep in thought, conscious that the sun could also be about to set on his international career.
Manchester City’s Yaya Toure, hospitalised with a fever last week, takes a seat on the bench next to the coaches with an ice pack strapped to his right knee.
Toure’s club-mate and brother Kolo mingles with Gervinho of Arsenal, Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote, veteran Didier Zokora and Drogba’s former Chelsea teammate Salomon Kalou, before the group form a huddle and pray.
Seeing so many big names assembled here, it is hard to believe Ivory Coast have not been crowned champions of Africa since their predecessors managed it in Senegal 21 years ago.
After all, this team sit higher in Fifa’s world rankings than Brazil and France.
When they left here for Johannesburg on Thursday, Les Elephants carried the burden of being favourites for the fifth tournament in a row.
On two of those occasions they lost the final on penalties, most painfully a year ago when they did not concede a single goal before outsiders Zambia broke their hearts by winning 8-7 in a shootout.
The other two attempts ended in the semi-finals and quarters.
When South Africa 2013 kicks off today, they say it will be the last chance for Ivory Coast’s so-called golden generation.
What they really mean, however, is it’s the last chance for Drogba.
“I don’t think it would be the end of a golden generation,” he said.
“It will certainly be the end for me, but the others will be able to win the trophy, I’m sure,” he said. — Mailonline.
Online Reporter