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Tag: Didier Drogba

  • AFCON 2024: Drogba warns Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire to be wary of Super Eagles

    AFCON 2024: Drogba warns Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire to be wary of Super Eagles

    Cote d’Ivoire legend Didier Drogba has warned the Elephants to be wary of the Super Eagles of Nigeria when the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations kickstart in January.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Super Eagles  will face the Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire in a second group A encounter at the Alhassane Quattara Stadium, Ebimpe, Abidjan, on January 18.

    Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau are the other teams in the group.

  • Drogba tips Osimhen to be world best footballer in future

    Ivorian football legend, Didier Drogba has tipped Super Eagles Napoli forward Victor Osimhen to be world best in no distant time.

    The Ivorian who’s host of the ‘Global Youth Tourism Summit’ in Sorrento, Italy told Calciomercato  why he likes the Nigerian.

    Drogba heaped praises on the Nigerian forward, describing his heroics for Napoli in his first two seasons as very  superb.

    Asked to give his verdict on the player, he said  “Osimhen? I really like him. Oh yeah, he’s a great striker”.

    Reacting to whether Osimhen can be the best in the world, Drogba responded in the affirmative, ”Yes it is possible, in football everything is possible. When you have a talent like his, I think it’s just a question of momentum ”.

    Osimhen, was last season in the Italian Serie A voted Most Valuable Player (MVP) for U-23 footballers.

    The Napoli hitman beat Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic and AC Milan’s Rafael Leao to the prize after making 26 appearances overall and playing 1,970 minutes and scoring 14 goals .

    Despite missing  over two months of action after sustaining a face injury while on duty for Napoli against Inter-Milan, Osimhen scored 14 goals in 23 league appearances for Gli Azzurri  in the 2021/22 campaign.

     

     

  • BREAKING: Didier Drogba bags WHO appointment

    BREAKING: Didier Drogba bags WHO appointment

    Ivorian retired professional footballer, Mr Didier Drogba has been appointed World Health Organization (WHO) Ambassador for Sports and Health.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Mr Drogba was appointed ambassador by the WHO to help promote the benefits of physical activity, healthy lifestyles and the value of sports, particularly for youth.

    Drogba, well known for his football career at Chelsea and as a two-time African Footballer of the Year (2006 and 2009), has a long track record of participating in various health campaigns such as healthy lifestyles, anti-malaria and HIV prevention and control.

    “I am honoured to team up with the World Health Organization and support its work to help people reach the highest level of health possible, especially young people in all countries,” said Mr Drogba during his ambassadorship announcement event at WHO’s Geneva headquarters.

    He added: “I have benefited first hand from the power of sports to lead a healthy life and I am committed to working with WHO to share such gains worldwide.”

    Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, hailed Mr Drogba as not only a football legend but a dedicated advocate for the health and sustainable development of communities, and added that his support for WHO can help curb the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) through the promotion of healthy lifestyles, including the benefits of physical activity and sports for all people.

    “Didier is a proven champion and game changer both on and off the pitch,” said Dr Tedros. “We are pleased to have him playing on our team, and helping communities worldwide reach and score goals through sports for their physical and mental health and well-being. He will also support the mobilization of the international community to promote sports as an essential means for improving the physical, mental health and social well-being of all people, including in helping COVID-19 recovery efforts.”

    TNG reports current global estimates show four in five adolescents, and one in four adults, do not do enough physical activity. Increased physical inactivity also negatively impacts health systems, the environment, economic development, community well-being, and quality of life.

    Regular physical activity, including through sports, helps lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and various types of cancer (including breast cancer and colon cancer).

    Mr Drogba’s announcement as a WHO Goodwill Ambassador was made during a ceremony to launch the “Healthy 2022 World Cup – Creating Legacy for Sport and Health” partnership between Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health and its Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, WHO and world football’s governing body, FIFA.

    Mr Drogba joins other WHO ambassadors including champion Brazilian footballer Alisson Becker; Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and three-term Mayor of the City of New York; Cynthia Germanotta, President of the Born This Way Foundation; and former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

  • Chelsea legend, Didier Drogba resigns as Vice-President of Côte d’Ivoire Players’ Association

    Chelsea legend, Didier Drogba resigns as Vice-President of Côte d’Ivoire Players’ Association

    Former Ivory Coast star striker Didier Drogba on Tuesday said he was stepping down as vice-president of his country’s Footballers Association (AFI) accusing it of “inaction” on defending player interests.

    “I hereby announce I have decided to resign from my post as vice-president of the AFI and from its executive committee,” the former Chelsea attacker said in an open letter to the media.

    Instead of defending players’ rights and interests he said the AFI “does not respond to their needs and expectations”.

    Former national skipper Drogba had been widely expected to head the West African country’s football association FIF but last year saw his candidacy snubbed as the AFI alleged he has not been sufficiently involved with the players’ representative organisation.

    He still hopes nonetheless to win a November election to that post.

    FIFA placed the FIF under its own remit last December saying the organisation was suffering from inherent internal problems and structural weaknesses and was not fully complying with statutory and regulatory requirements which all FIFA member associations must follow.

    The normalisation committee now overseeing the Ivory Coast game must choose a FIF president.

    FIFA in January chose senator Mariam Dao Gabala, a newcomer to the football world, to oversee the normalisation committee which comprises four members.

  • Chelsea legend, Didier Drogba confirms crash of 10-year-old marriage

    Chelsea legend, Didier Drogba confirms crash of 10-year-old marriage

    African football icon, Didier Drogba said today that his ten year-old marriage to Lalla Diakate is over.

    The Ivorian retired footballer broke the news on Instagram following a viral video, which captured him in bed with a mystery woman.

    The Chelsea legend, 42, met Lalla Diakate in the late 1990s in Paris and they tied the knot in 2011.

    Drogba wrote on Instagram: “I’m not in the habit of discussing my private life.

    “But, because of speculation in the media today, I can confirm that sadly, after 20 years together, Lalla and I took the difficult decision to separate last year.

    “We remain very close, and our main priorities have been to protect our children and our family’s private life.

    “May God bless you.”

    Drogba, one of the most decorated African footballer, enjoyed two spells at Chelsea, first arriving at Stamford Bridge under Jose Mourinho in 2004. He spent eight years.

    Then he returned in 2014 for a year-long stint and helped to take his tally to 104 goals in 254 top-flight matches for the club.

    Drogba won many honours at Stamford Bridge, including four Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2012.

  • How Drogba lured me to Chelsea – Hazard

    How Drogba lured me to Chelsea – Hazard

    Real Madrid ace Eden Hazard admits Didier Drogba was key to him joining Chelsea.

    In conversation with Het Laatste Nieuws, Hazard revealed how Chelsea legend Drogba pulled together his contacts in order to act as a persuader.

    Knowing that Hazard played alongside Gervinho at Lille, Drogba was able to speak with the youngster via his Ivory Coast international team-mate.

    “Suddenly Gervinho’s phone rang in the dressing room near Lille. It was Drogba on the line. He insisted that he tell me, ‘I need to talk to him’,” Hazard revealed.

    “Drogba said to me, ‘You have to come to Chelsea’.

    “At that moment I was still in doubt. Chelsea was not doing well in the Premier League. They wouldn’t play Champions League the following year. [But] After that final, the choice was made quickly.”

    Hazard added: “I knew I would easily adapt. London, close to home, not too far from Lille. [Kevin] De Bruyne had played there, Romelu [Lukaku] was around. There were enough French speakers. I knew I would play enough. I was only sad that he, Drogba, decided to leave.”

  • Eden Hazard a Chelsea legend, says Drogba

    Eden Hazard a Chelsea legend, says Drogba

    Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba believes Eden Hazard has attained the height of becoming a Chelsea legend regardless of whether he leaves the club for Real Madrid at the end of the season.

    The Belgium international’s existing deal is due to expire in June 2020 and Chelsea are keen to tie him down to a new five-year contract, making him the club’s highest paid player in the process.

    Real Madrid’s interest represents a problem, though, as the £100 million-rated winger has admitted on more than one occasion that playing at the Santiago Bernabeu would be a dream for him, particularly with his idol Zinedine Zidane once more in charge in the Spanish capital.

    Drogba is impressed with Hazard’s development since they played together roughly four years ago and feels the 28-year-old has become the undisputed key man at Stamford Bridge.

    “He has become more clinical,” Drogba told Goal at Geneva Motorshow.

    “It comes with age as well. He is very efficient and I am really happy to see that. He is leading the team, carrying the team on his shoulders and he is doing that well.

    “He is someone who has got very high expectations of himself and his team-mates because he wants to win. Sometimes this pushes you to do a little bit more to do well because you want your team-mates to get to your level. This happens sometimes, but the more he plays in these big games, he reads the game better.

    “He is a legend [regardless of what happens], look at what he achieved in six years at the club. He won the league twice, won the FA Cup, won Player of the Year. We are talking about Eden Hazard. Please!

    “He brought something that we hadn’t seen for such a long time. The closest I can bring to him if I compare, if I may, is [Gianfranco] Zola. The talent to dribble, to make the difference and dribble one-versus-one. That’s him.”

  • EPL: Didier Drogba set for Chelsea return

    EPL: Didier Drogba set for Chelsea return

    Chelsea legend Didier Drogba will make an emotional playing return to Stamford Bridge this summer as part of Soccer Aid 2019.

    The Blues hero, who won 12 major honours with Chelsea, is set to be confirmed as one of the former professionals to play in the annual charity match, scheduled to take place on June 16.

    It will be the first time Drogba, 41, has played at his spiritual home since leaving his second spell at the club back in 2015.

    Drogba, who scored 164 goals during his two spells at the club, is sure to receive a hero’s reception back at the Bridge when he turns out for the Rest of the World to play against England given his legendary status among Chelsea supporters.

    The game at Stamford Bridge is the first time Soccer Aid has been played at a club stadium other than Old Trafford in its 13-year history.

    In recent months, the former striker’s foundation has helped pay for a new mobile heart clinic, opened a new school as well as providing computer facilities for various educational projects.

    ‘I am very excited to be coming back to Stamford Bridge to play in Soccer Aid for Unicef,’ Drogba said.

    ‘I am passionate about all children having access to healthcare and education, which is key to Unicef’s work around the world. I’m delighted that my foundation and UNICEF are planning a project together in Cote D’Ivoire.

    Together we can help make a real difference to so many children’s lives, and have a greater impact than ever before.’

    Meanwhile, Chelsea have lodged an appeal against their two window transfer ban, imposed by FIFA.

    The Blues are currently prevented from signing any players either this summer or January for breaking the rules surrounding the transfer of minors.

    FIFA confirmed on Monday that Chelsea – who were also fined £460,000 – have lodged an official appeal against the ruling, with the hearing to take place on April 11.

  • Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba confirms retirement

    Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba confirms retirement

    Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has confirmed his retirement from playing, ending “an amazing 20 years”.

    The Ivory Coast striker, 40, had two spells at Chelsea, scoring 164 goals in 381 games and winning four Premier Leagues and the 2012 Champions League.

    He spent the last 18 months of his career with US side Phoenix Rising, the club he co-owns.

    “After 20 years, I have decided to put an end to my playing career,” he told BBC World Service’s Sportshour.

    It had been expected Drogba would retire after the United Soccer League Cup final earlier this month, with his last game a 1-0 defeat by Louisville City in the final of the United States’ second tier.

    “It’s the best way to end, helping some young talent to develop,” he said.

    “To give something back to the game was the best way to finish as I have learned so much in the game.”

    Drogba did not play top-flight football until the age of 23, when French side Guingamp signed him from Ligue 2 Le Mans in January 2002.

    He moved to Marseille 18 months later – and the following year completed a reported £24m move to Chelsea, where he had the best spell of his career.

    Drogba won three Premier League titles in his first eight years at Chelsea, including in each of his first two seasons in England, as well as four FA Cups and two League Cups.

    He also won the Premier League Golden Boot in 2006-07 and 2009-10.

    He left on a high, scoring the winning penalty in the Champions League final shootout against Bayern Munich.

    Drogba then spent six months with Shanghai Shenhua and a year and a half with Galatasaray before returning to Chelsea.

    He scored seven goals in 2014-15, winning a fourth Premier League title and a third League Cup, leaving the club as their fourth highest scorer of all time.

    In 2015, he joined Major League Soccer side Montreal Impact and then became player-owner of Phoenix Rising.

    He scored 65 times in 105 caps for the Ivory Coast, playing in three World Cups and being named African Footballer of the Year twice.