No. News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services.The 42-year-old will compete with four other hopefuls for the position after launching his bid in the country's economic capital Abidjan.The elections to be top chief at the Cote d’Ivoire Football Federation take place on September 5.And the former striker hopes his achievements throughout his distinguished club career and with The Elephants will help him be voted in.Indeed the surrounding streets were full of fans desperate to get a glimpse of their idol, carry banners and wearing T-shirts adorned with Drogba's face.However, despite his popularity with football fans in the country, he is still not certain to be on the ballot.Drogba needs nominations from three of the 14 Ligue 1 clubs and two from the lower divisions.The two-time African Football of the Year also must have the endorsement of any of five special interest groups of coaches, doctors, current and former players and referees, according to Reuters.And his candidacy has already suffered a big blow after the Ivory Coast Footballers Association controversially did not support him.“We can see it today with all these people gathered in front of the headquarters of the Ivorian football federation.”The Blues icon added: ”It's no secret that our football is going badly, and that is why with my team we are committed to contributing to the rebirth of Ivorian football.“If my goal was not driven by a deep desire to give back to Ivorian football all that it has given me, to contribute to the development of football in my country, and if God was not in this candidacy, it would be difficult to be in front of you today.”Drogba represented Ivory Coast between 2002 and 2014, spanning five Africa Cup of Nations and three World Cups.
On the other side of the continent, Ivory Coast erupted. "On the pitch, any notion that the script would not be a fairytale was dispelled when Salomon Kalou tapped in on 18 minutes. Didier Drogba drew a large crowd on Saturday eager to watch him submit his candidacy before the deadline for next months Ivory Coast Football Federation … It was a respectable first performance.The following year, an extraordinary announcement was made by Drogba, while touring the rebel-held area of his homeland after claiming the African Footballer of the Year award.Ivory Coast's home match and Madagascar, due to be played on 3 June 2007, would not be played in Abidjan as scheduled, he said, but instead in Bouake, the symbolic centre of the rebellion. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited.
Their match in Sudan had finished. The Toures from the north, Drogba from the south. What was yet to emerge, however, was his pivotal role in bringing about that peace. Yet this small ground - known as the Red Castle - became the setting for one of football's most extraordinary tales.The date was 8 October 2005. Get unlimited access at $0.99/month* … He is best known for his career at Chelsea, for whom he has scored more goals than any other foreign player and is currently the club's fourth highest goal scorer of all time. The mathematics of qualification for World Cup 2006 were simple. The Cameroon players gathered, dazed and despondent in the penalty area, some pulling their shirts over their eyes. And nobody encapsulated this quite like the man who led their line, and who was about to take centre stage.Didier Drogba had arrived at Chelsea in 2004 for a reported fee of £24m. With divisions running deep, and memories short, the euphoria surrounding those two matches began to fade. "All I cared about was whether my family was going to be OK. That's the only worry I had each morning. Anything less would allow The tag "golden generation" can be a substantial yoke to bear, but the Ivorian squad in 2005 was just that.
Al-Merrikh Stadium, in Sudan's second largest city of Omdurman, is not one of the world's great gladiatorial arenas. Sebastien Gnahore, an ex-footballer who fled Ivory Coast, recalls those times. 198402868E. "They showed that we could still live together, that we could be the Ivory Coast that we had been before. Drogba retired from football in 2018 after a glittering career that saw success in six countries, with a place in the pantheon of African greats - if not world greats - already assured. "It was awful. Inside the stadium itself, government and rebel troops hurled football chants back and forth. We can see it today with all these people gathered in front of the headquarters of the Ivorian football federation," he told reporters. Despite having lost twice to Cameroon in qualifying, they remained agonisingly close as they took to the pitch in Sudan that evening.Yet, while Ivory Coast's footballing stars stood on the verge of history, back home the country teetered on the edge of something dark. and is the country’s leading scorer with 65 goals from 105 caps.He is also the country’s third most-capped player of all time after Didier Zokora (123) and Kolo Toure (120). Above him in the stands, old adversaries celebrated together.The final whistle brought fans rushing on to the pitch, with security personnel forming protective screens around the players, most of all Drogba.
He was named African Football… But he and his team-mates were responsible for something far bigger than just footballing glory. "The initial violence was fierce but short-lived, as both sides became quickly entrenched along a north-south divide. He is the all-time top scorer and former captain of the Ivory Coast national team. This was a squad that could match anything on the African continent. "We want to have fun, so stop firing your guns," they sang joyously.