Drogba Included In Final Ivory Coast Squad

Cote d'Ivoire boss Uli Stielke has named his final 23-man squad for the African Cup of Nations, which begins in Ghana on January 20th.

Didier Drogba (pictured) is set to lead hte line after being included, with Stielke banking on a swift recovery for the Chelsea man after his recent surgery.

Other England-based players include Arsenal's Emmanuel Eboue and Kolo Toure, whild Spanish clubs are represented through Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure, Sevilla forward Arouna Kone

Just one locally-based player, Africa Sports' Tiasse Kone, has made the squad, with the rest being employed in Europe in what is, on paper at least, one of the tournament's stronger squads.

The squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Boubacar Barry (KSC Lokeren, Belgium), Stephane Loboue (Greuther Fürth, Germany), Tiassé Koné (Africa Sports)

Defenders: Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal, England), Kolo Toure (Arsenal, England), Arthur Boka (Stuttgart, Germany), Constant Djakpa (Pandurii Targu Jiu, Romania), Steve Gohouri (Borussia Monchengladbach, Germany), Abdoulaye Meite (Bolton, England), Marc Zoro (Benfica, Portugal)

Midfielders: Emerse Fae (Reading, England), Christian Koffi Ndri Romaric (Le Mans, France), Siaka Tiene (Saint-Etienne, France), Yaya Toure (FC Barcelona, Spain), Didier Zokora (Tottenham, England)

Strikers: Didier Drogba (Chelsea, England), Salomon Kalou (Chelsea, England), Aruna Dindane (Lens, France), Kader Keita (Lyon, France), Arouna Kone (Sevilla, Spain), Bakari "Baky" Koné (Nice, France), Gervais "Gervinho" Yao Kouassi (Le Mans, France), Boubacar Sanogo (Werder Bremen, Germany).