Football

Drogba on target as Elephants win Nations Cup warm-up tie

Didier Drogba of Cote d’Ivoire celebrates his goal during the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations tie in Ghana. The striker scored the lone goal to help his Angola-bound team defeat hosts Taifa Stars of Tanzania in a build-up friendly in Dar es Salaam on Monday . Photo/MOHAMMED AMIN

Didier Drogba of Cote d’Ivoire celebrates his goal during the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations tie in Ghana. The striker scored the lone goal to help his Angola-bound team defeat hosts Taifa Stars of Tanzania in a build-up friendly in Dar es Salaam on Monday . Photo/MOHAMMED AMIN 


Posted  Tuesday, January 5  2010 at  20:23

In Summary

  • Angola striker and defender doubtful for Sunday’s CAN opener, Egypt win

JOHANNESBURG

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba scored his 41st goal for Cote d’Ivoire as they continued their preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-0 win over Tanzania on Monday.

Drogba scored six minutes before halftime in Dar es Salaam and his goal proved to be the winner for the Ivorians, who are the pre-tournament favourites for the January 10-31 finals in Angola.

Defending champions Egypt beat Mali 1-0 in another warm-up match in Dubai, second-half substitute Mohamed Nagui finding the target after an earlier effort from Hossam Ghali was disallowed for offside.

Cote d’Ivoire meet Rwanda in Dar tomorrow in their last warm-up game, three days before hosts Angola face Mali in Luanda to get the Nations Cup under way.

Angola striker Flavio and defensive midfielder Stelvio are meanwhile doubtful for Sunday’s Nations Cup opening game against Mali, coach Manuel Jose said Tuesday.

Flavio was injured in the 1-1 draw with Gambia in Portugal on Sunday in Angola’s last warm-up match before the start of the tournament.

Stelvio picked up his knock in another warm-up international against Estonia on December 30.

“It is my big concern that Flavio recovers and is available to play against Mali,” the coach told reporters on the team’s return to Angola after a month-long training camp in Portugal.

“He, together with Stelvio, are important to our starting lineup because we don’t have any stars in our team and need the key elements of our collective.” (Reuters)