The former captain of the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire Didier Drogba is bidding to succeed Sidy Diallo as president of the Ivory Coast Football Federation but the Chelsea legend is closer to be disqualified after, so far, failing to secure a single mandatory endorsement from some four groups of interest.
To be eligible to contest the seat of President at the Ivory Coast FA a candidate must be endorsed by at least seven football clubs three of which must be from the elite division and at least an endorsement from the four groups of interests.
The four groups of interest are the Association of Old Players headed by former national goalkeeper and Senegal 1992 hero Alain Gouamene, the Referee’s Association, the coaches Association and the football medical doctors association.
The endorsements of the old player’s body – of which Drogba is a member – and that of the referees association have gone for current vice-president Sory Diabate.
On Monday the 2012 UEFA Champions League winner received yet another shock of his life as the Ivory Coast Footballers Association headed by former national star Cyrille Domoraud and for which Drogba is again the vice president – rather decided to support the candidature of Idriss Diallo. Diallo, a former vice-president of the federation in the Jacques Anouma era has already secured the support of the coaches group leaving Didier Drogba – the people’s favorite – with zero endorsements from these specific groups in a massive embarrassment for the iconic figure.
Meanwhile the fourth and last group of interest that are yet to decide their choice is the Association of football doctors and in case of a non-vote for the two-time African footballer of the year, he is automatically disqualified to contest the Presidential elections by law.
