Drogba To Run For Ivorian FA Presidency

Ivory Coast soccer star Didier Drogba will run for the presidency in the forthcoming Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) elections.

The 41-year-old announced his candidature on Thursday while addressing journalists at a forum organised by a French business school in Abidjan.

This was after he was asked if he had potential political ambitions like the former footballer George Weah who became Liberia’s President.

The former Chelsea forward said he had decided to join the race after ‘extensive consultations and deliberations with key stakeholders whose sole intention is to put the interest of Ivory Coast first’.

“You don’t have to be president to make a difference,” Drogba said; “I think it’s important to have more options and then focus on my main goal right now, which is to be the president of the football federation.”

Last month, Drogba’s handlers stated that he was weighing the possibilities of presenting his candidature for FIF presidential elections which will be held in November this year.

Deadline for contenders to be nominated by at least five FIF branches will be in the month of October.

Eugene Diomande, who is the president of local side Sewe Sport, is rumoured to be among the cabal also seeking to face-off with the incumbent Sally Dialo.

Drogba scored 65 times in 105 caps for the Ivory Coast, playing in three World Cups and being named African Footballer of the Year twice.

Since 2017 Drogba has been the current owner of American second-tier football club Phoenix Rising.