ylynczg

Didier Drogba was a smash hit at the African Nations Cup which was produced by CAF (Confederation of African Football) and hosted in Egypt. The final with Ivory Coast took place on February 10 2006 and was won by the host country Egypt 4-2 on penalty shoot-out.

Didier Drogba had the most impact of any other national player of any other of the participaying teams during the course of the intra African match-ups. He is essentially a centeral force on any of the teams he has played on.. This also includes Chelsea of the English Premier League of which he is also a striker.

For team mate, Toure, Drogba presents a potentially decisive edge in the first competitive meeting between Ivory Coast and Nigeria since the 1994 Nations Cup semi-final won by the Nigerians on penalties.

"Drogba is a really great player and he is something special. We are really proud of what hehas a done for the team". "It's going to be a very hard game. But now we are in the semi-finals, anything can happen. We've got our chance," said defender Toure.

Seconds into the second half, the whole difference was made when Drogba netted his fourth goal of the tournament and the Elephants could afford to sit back for most of the second half. The goal stung the Nigerian bench who immediately replaced Mikel Obi with Jay Jay Okocha and Kanu Nwankwo with Julius Aghahowa, but still the Nigerians could not turn the game round. This is the first time the Ivorians, who have qualified for the World cup, will have played in the final since winning the title in 1992 in Senegal.

The Egyptians must thank goalkeeper Essam EL Hadary for saving two penalties as Ivory Coasts Didier Drogba missed a crucial first spot kick for the Elephants.

COTE D'IVOIRE (Ivory Coast) National Team Line-up

01.Tizie Jean-Jacques Hobrou
02.Akale Kanga Gauthier
03.Boka Etienne Arthur
04.Toure Kolo Abib
05.Zokora Deguy Alain Didier
06.Kouassi Koffiblaise
07.Fae Emerse
09.Kone Arouna
11.Drogba Tebily Didier Yves
21.Eboue Emmanuel
19.Toure Yaya Gnegneri

How many of these following substitutes will make their way to other Premier League teams in Europe and Asia?

10.Yapi Yapo Gilles Donald
08.Kalou Bonaventure
14.Kone Bakari
15.Dindane Aruna
16.Gnanhouan G. Amoukou Okosias
17.Domoraud Depri Cyrille Leandre
18.Tiene Siaka
22.N'dri Koffi Christian Romaric
23.Barry Boubacar
20.Demel Guy Roland
12.Meite Abdoulaye
13.Zoro Kpolo Marc Andre

The battle for African Footballer of the year

Drogba overshadowed Samuel Eto'o, his rival for the African Footballer of the Year award usually held in late February. Didier Drogba scored the decisive penalty to put Ivory Coast into the last four in a dramatic shootout victory over Cameroon in Cairo.However it might be blindsided by a contender from Egypt. Could Mido be in the mix?

What if it were that easy I ask? What if instead of sending nuclear enabled ICBMs to your neighboring countries, you could solve you anxiety and frustration thru designer cartoons? What if we all stepped back and laughed at ourselves and each other and determined all this sound and fury does no one any good, but rather is creating animosity and spite which has lasted thru some 60 generations?

It seems as we saw the riots in the Muslim nations over the Danish University Newspaper cartoon of the Great Allaah with a turbine on his head made to look like a bomb signifying the most radical Islamic clerics who use their religion to recruit suicide bombers; we are learning a lesson indeed. The lesson is this; when someone wants to cause a conflict over something they will always find a way. They will always find a way to play victim or use the conflict label another or a group or even a nation.

We know in watching human groupings and chimpanzee troops or even High School Football team cross town rivals that to build a team, you must first pick an enemy. Well not always, but we know that such a method is perhaps the easiest way. Rather than uniting ourselves against another, why not unite all in a common cause of cartooning.

So that we may look at ourselves and our neighbors and just laugh at the whole thing; after all we are a bunch of silly humans and get all worked up nothing at times. Come on humor me, this was not such a bad article? Consider this in 2006.

Wycombe Wanderers remained top of League Two despite a coupon busting performance by failing to beat Stockport County. After only managing a draw at Barnet last week, the bookies priced Wycombe at a best price of 2/5 to see off Stockport who had won away just twice all season.

However, midfielder Matthew Hamshaw gave Stockport a shock 38 minute lead at Adams Park. The Hatters almost hung on for an unlikely 6/1 victory until striker Ian Stonebridge struck an equaliser with one minute remaining. Stockport are now unbeaten in four matches.

Grimsby Town stay in third despite slipping to a home defeat against Peterborough United, their fourth game without victory. Michael Reddy gave the 5/6 home favourites the perfect start in the 29 minute although Peter Gain levelled terms for Peterborough almost instantly. Mark Wrights side found a winner through Danny Crow to seal a win at 3/1 and edged them into a play off place.

Second placed Carlisle United wasted an opportunity to go top of the league on Sunday, slumping to a 3-0 defeat at Macclesfield. Two goals in the opening 10 minutes helped seal a 9/5 victory for the Silkmen.

Northampton were one side that made up ground on the top three with a 2-0 win at Bury. An own goal from Andy Parrish and Andy Kirks ninth goal of the season wrapped the match up for the 6/5 Cobblers by half time.

Rushden & Diamonds gave their survival hopes a fighting chance with a 3-0 victory over Oxford United. Three goals in the opening 22 minutes levelled 6/4 Rushden on points with Stockport.

With both Rushden and Stockport picking up points, Torquays win at Shrewsbury kept their heads just above water. Striker Paul Robinsons first goal since November ensured 10/3 outsiders Torquay remain one point clear of the drop zone.