Drogba leads Euro cast for Nations Cup
Dec 30, 2009
BEFORE Salif Keita joined St. Ettiene in 1967 to become the first African to ply his soccer trade in Europe, the subsequent tournaments had only attracted players from within the continent but how times change!
BEFORE Salif Keita joined St. Ettiene in 1967 to become the first African to ply his soccer trade in Europe, the subsequent tournaments had only attracted players from within the continent but how times change!
With football becoming a more pecuniary oriented sport there have been country versus club squabbles until when FIFA put it right that players should give their national team priority. Here is a look at the European based players expected to set the 2010 Africa Nations Cup alight.
Didier Drogba
The Ivorian is the biggest bully in world football. He has done that to even the most elite backlines at top level. At 31, it’s seemingly the last chance for the late developed Drogba to have a bite at the cherry. He has won individual accolades and trophies at club level but the Nations Cup has eluded him.
He is the most in-form African striker at the moment and will be looking for vengeance after futile attempts in the past two evnts when the Ivorians had been dubbed favourites.
Samule Eto’o
Former Cameroon hitman Patrick Mboma believes the Inter Milan forward is the greatest striker Africa has ever produced. Eto’o had fabulous 2008/9 where he won a treble with Barcelona before crossing to Italy.
With 16 goals, Eto’o broke Laurent Pokou’s 38 year scoring record.
He has won the Nations Cup twice in 2000 and 2002, and has been voted African Footballer of the Year a record four times.
Obi Mikel
In this passing decade, Nigeria has not savoured the luxury of having world beaters in abundancy like it was in the nineties. That’s why you can’t look beyond the deep lying midfielder for a player who is now calling the tunes for the Super Eagles.
Mikel was Nigeria ’s best player in Ghana2008 and in the absence of Guinea’s passing luminary Pascal Feindouno, expect no one to do it better than the Chelsea midfielder.
Mohamed Zidane
He is one of the only two European-based players in Egypt’s squad. But this time the Borussia Dortmund forward will have to take the mantle of leading the striking line if Hassan Shehata’s men are to win their record seventh trophy as Amr Zaki is out injured.
Michael Essien
He has always been known for his bull in the China shop style and he has cemented his place as one of Europe’s best midfielders.
In the absence of Steven Appiah and Sulley Muntari, it’s opportune for Essien to showcase what he does best in Europe.
Emanuel Adebayor (Togo), Burkina Faso’s Jonathan Patroipa, Barca duo Yaya Toure and Seydou Keita, Fredrick Kanoute, Algeria’s Madjid Bougherra and Benin attacker Stefan Sesegnon are also likely to stand and be counted.
Compiled by Ben Nyombi
With football becoming a more pecuniary oriented sport there have been country versus club squabbles until when FIFA put it right that players should give their national team priority. Here is a look at the European based players expected to set the 2010 Africa Nations Cup alight.
Didier Drogba
The Ivorian is the biggest bully in world football. He has done that to even the most elite backlines at top level. At 31, it’s seemingly the last chance for the late developed Drogba to have a bite at the cherry. He has won individual accolades and trophies at club level but the Nations Cup has eluded him.
He is the most in-form African striker at the moment and will be looking for vengeance after futile attempts in the past two evnts when the Ivorians had been dubbed favourites.
Samule Eto’o
Former Cameroon hitman Patrick Mboma believes the Inter Milan forward is the greatest striker Africa has ever produced. Eto’o had fabulous 2008/9 where he won a treble with Barcelona before crossing to Italy.
With 16 goals, Eto’o broke Laurent Pokou’s 38 year scoring record.
He has won the Nations Cup twice in 2000 and 2002, and has been voted African Footballer of the Year a record four times.
Obi Mikel
In this passing decade, Nigeria has not savoured the luxury of having world beaters in abundancy like it was in the nineties. That’s why you can’t look beyond the deep lying midfielder for a player who is now calling the tunes for the Super Eagles.
Mikel was Nigeria ’s best player in Ghana2008 and in the absence of Guinea’s passing luminary Pascal Feindouno, expect no one to do it better than the Chelsea midfielder.
Mohamed Zidane
He is one of the only two European-based players in Egypt’s squad. But this time the Borussia Dortmund forward will have to take the mantle of leading the striking line if Hassan Shehata’s men are to win their record seventh trophy as Amr Zaki is out injured.
Michael Essien
He has always been known for his bull in the China shop style and he has cemented his place as one of Europe’s best midfielders.
In the absence of Steven Appiah and Sulley Muntari, it’s opportune for Essien to showcase what he does best in Europe.
Emanuel Adebayor (Togo), Burkina Faso’s Jonathan Patroipa, Barca duo Yaya Toure and Seydou Keita, Fredrick Kanoute, Algeria’s Madjid Bougherra and Benin attacker Stefan Sesegnon are also likely to stand and be counted.
Compiled by Ben Nyombi