Ivory Coast include Drogba

Drogba: Ivory Coast call

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has been included in the Ivory Coast's 23-man squad for the African Cup of Nations finals in Ghana later this month.

Drogba, the African Footballer of the Year, returned to training with the Blues this week after undergoing knee surgery last month.

Ivorian coach Uli Stielike has now taken a chance on him being fully fit for the start of the tournament on 20th January.

Premier League presence

Also included in the squad is Drogba's Chelsea team-mate Salomon Kalou and Arsenal duo Emmanuel Eboue and Kolo Toure.

Bolton Wanderers' defender Abdoulaye Meite also earns a call-up while midfielders Emerse Fae of Reading and Tottenham's Didier Zokora are named in the squad.

Fifteen members are retained from the squad that competed in the last Cup of Nations finals in Egypt two years ago, where the Ivory Coast finished runners-up.

The side will begin their preparations for the competition on Monday with a training camp in Kuwait.

The Ivory Coast open their campaign with a Group B clash against Nigeria in Sekondi on 21st January.