Didier Drogba left out against Gambia

Elephants of Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast skipper Didier Drogba has been left out by Elephants coach Sabri Lamouchi ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Gambia, to be played next Saturday in Abidjan.

The reason behind the absence of the former Chelsea and Shanghai Shenhua striker is unknown, and could be related to the slight knee injury Drogba suffered with Galatasaray against Schalke in their UEFA Champions league tie last week.

A list of 28 players has been published on the Fédération Ivoirienne de Football official site earlier this Saturday, and the Elephants head coach will hold a press conference on Monday to explain his choices.

Just back from a shoulder injury, number one keeper Boubacar ‘Copa’ Barry has been included together with three other keepers amongst them, Africa Sports’ Abdoul Karim Cissé.

At the back, 2013 Africa Cup of Nations contenders Emmanuel Eboué, Siaka Tiéné and Igor Lolo made their way out, while Valenciennes center back Benjamin Angoua and Toulouse versatile defender Jean-Daniel Akpa-Akpro have been called-up.

Experienced midfielder Romaric N’Dri has also been left out, unlike young Sochaux former France U-18 international Giovanni Sio and Losseni Karaboué of Nancy.

CSKA Moscow’s Seydou Doumbia makes his return upfront, along with regular Gervais Lombe Yao Kouassi better known as Gervinho, Salomon Kalou, Lacina Traoré, Wilfried Bony and Arouna Koné; as well as Ivorian League top striker, Kévin Zougoula from Séwé Sports and Gérard Gohou Bi Goua of Turkish 2nd Division side Kayseri Erciyesspor.

Below is the Ivory Coast team to face the Scorpions of The Gambia:

Goalkeepers: Boubacar ‘Copa’ Barry (Lokeren, Belgium), Sylvain Gbohouo (Séwé Sport), Ali Badra Sangaré (Ivoire Sport Académie), Abdoul Karim Cissé (Africa Sports).

Defenders: Souleman Bamba (Trazbonspor, Turkey), Arthur Boka (Stuttgart, Germany), Kolo Touré (Manchester City, England), Didier Zokora (Trazbonspor, Turkey), Ismaël Traoré (Brest, France), Benjamin Angoua (Valenciennes, France), Jean-Daniel Akpa-Akpro (Toulouse, France).

Midfielders: Max-Alain Gradel (AS St-Etienne, France), Cheik Ismaël Tioté (Newcastle, England), Abdul Razak (Charlton Athletic, England), Yaya Touré (Manchester City, England), Losseni Karaboué (Nancy, France), Giovanni Sio (Sochaux, France), Emmanuel Kouamatien Koné (Sedan, France), Didier Ya Konan (Hannover 96, Germany), Geoffrey Serey Die (Basel, Switzerland).

Strikers: Wilfried Bony (Vitesse Arnhem, Netherlands), Arouna Koné (Wigan, England), Lacina Traoré (Anzhi Makhachkala, Russia), Gervinho (Arsenal, England), Seydou Doumbia (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Kévin Zougoula (Séwé Sport), Gérard Gohou Bi Goua (Kayseri Erciyesspor, Turkey).