The Elephants of Ivory Coast are looking for two victories against the Gambia and Tanzania to seal a berth in the World Cup qualifiers for Brazil 2014.
The team set to take on the Scorpions on 8 June 2013 in Banjul, is leading group C with 7 points, an additional six points will give them clear group leaders.
Former Coach of the Elephants Robert Nouzaret has backed Coach Lamouchi choice to change his squad with the omission of Drogba and other players to ensure a good finish.
According to jeuneafrique.com, the former French international displays a willingness to break with the past, and thus with some historical framework of the selection.
“A team that does not change, is a team that does not change. This choice is in line with our commitment to be transparent and consistent. I must be sure to say the players are physically ready and willing to bring us back the two victories that will allow us to qualify for the World Cup, “ said Robert Nouzaret, who had offered Drogba his debut in 2002 on the international website.
“Lamouchi wants to move on, because Drogba generation has gained nothing. But I do not think this necessarily means no end of Didier’s international career. I think that the two men had a discussion about it. Maybe he prefers to let blow after a season that began in Shanghai Shenhua.
“He has joined Turkey in January,” suggests the former coach of the Elephants who refuses to draw a definite conclusion adding that. “But if he is not in the list for the August friendly match and against Morocco or that in September, he will begin to get the idea that he will not return.”
Tizié questions
Jean-Jacques Tizié, former Ivorian goalkeeper (83 caps between 1995 and 2007), now a member of the technical staff of Esperance, includes choice of French technicians, said “Drogba is fit, he proved for several months. What happened to a player of his size, it’s wrong. Even if he is 35 years old, he remains competitive. “
“Lamouchi speech is not very clear,” Tizié says, while rumours about the difficult relations between Drogba and his coach, but especially between the player and the Ivorian federation, could explain the development in away from the Galatasaray striker.
