Ivory Coast squad out

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has been called up by Ivory Coast national coach Ulrich Stielike in his 23-man squad named Friday for the African Nations Cup in Ghana from January 20 to February 10.

Despite his recent knee injury, Drogba has been included in a line-up which includes just one local player, goalkeeper Tiasse Kone, who plays for Ivorian champions Africa Sports.

The Elephants will train in Kuwait from January 7-18 where they will play three friendlies against Kuwait and two local clubs.

Ivory Coast are in Group B in the Nations Cup with Nigeria, Mali and Benin.

Goalkeepers: Boubacar Barry (KSC Lokeren/BEL), Stephane Loboue (Greuther F?rth/GER), Tiass? Kon? (Africa Sports/CIV)

Defenders: Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal/ENG), Abib Kolo Toure (Arsenal/ENG), Arthur Boka (Stuttgart/GER), Constant Djakpa (Pandurii Targu Jiu/ROM), Steve Gohouri (Borussia Monchengladbach/GER), Abdoulaye Meite (Bolton/ENG), Marc Zoro (Benfica/POR)

Midfielders: Emerse Fae (Reading/ENG), Christian Koffi Ndri Romaric (Le Mans/FRA), Siaka Tiene (Saint-Etienne/FRA), Yaya Toure (FC Barcelona/ESP), Didier Zokora (Tottenham/ENG)

Strikers: Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Salomon Kalou (Chelsea/ENG), Aruna Dindane (Lens/FRA), Kader Keita (Lyon/FRA), Arouna Kone (Sevilla/ESP), Bakari Kon? "Baky" (Nice/FRA), Gervais Yao Kouassi "Gervinho" (Le Mans/FRA), Boubacar Sanogo (Werder Bremen/GER)