Drogba returns to Ivory Coast duty

ABIDJAN (AFP) – Veteran striker Didier Drogba has been recalled to the Ivory Coast squad for the August 14 friendly against Mexico after an absence of six months. Drogba, the former Chelsea star who now features for Galatasaray in Turkey, has not played international football since the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final defeat to Nigeria on February 3. SWEET VICTORY: Drogba with the Emirates Cup Sunday. AFP. He had persuaded national coach Sabri Lamouchi that he needed a rest, but on Wednesday he was named in a 23-man squad for the game against Mexico in New York next week. Ivory Coast squad: Goalkeepers: Boubacar Barry (Lokeren/BEL), Ali Badra Sangare (Ivoire Academie) Defenders: Souleymane Bamba, Didier Zokora (both Trabzonspor/TUR), Arthur Boka (Stuttgart/ GER), Benjamin Brou Angoua (Valenciennes/FRA), Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro, Serge Aurier (both Toulouse/FRA), Ousmane Viera Diarrassouba (Caykur Rizespor/TUR), Brice Dja Djedje (Evian/ FRA) Midfielders: Yaya Toure, Abdul Razak (both Manchester City/ENG), Cheick Ismael Tiote (Newcastle/ENG), Giovanni Sio (Wolsburg/GER), Geoffroy Serey Die (Basel/SUI), Bobley Anderson (Malaga/ESP), Jean-Jacques Gosso Gosso (Glenclerbirligi/TUR) Attackers: Didier Drogba (Galatasaray/TUR), Gervinho (Arsenal/ENG), Salomon Kalou (Lille/ FRA), Wilfried Bony (Swansea City/ENG), Mathis Bolly (Fortuna Duesseldorf/GER), Cyriac Gohi Bi Zoro (Anderlecht/BEL)