Didier Drogba @ 42: An African Football Legend

By Ekene Dike

On the 11th of March 1978, a football maestro was born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. He later went on to become the Captain of  the Ivorian national team.

Didier Drogba is remembered for his strength, agility, determination, discipline and success on and off the football pitch.

Football fans of Chelsea FC regard Didier Drogba as a cult hero after he won the Premier League, FA Cup, Carling Cup and Champions League amongst other trophies while he was plying his trade with the club.

He left an indelible mark in the club’s history after he played a crucial role as Chelsea won their first UEFA Champions League trophy in 2012. The energetic striker scored the equalizer through a powerful header in the regular 90 minutes and scored the winning penalty in the shootout against Bayern Munich.

Apart from his football achievements, he was an influential personality in his country as he prevented the continuation of the civil war after Ivory Coast qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Drogba also had a penchant for engaging in charity work and was acknowledged by Times magazine when he was named in the elite list of the world’s 100 most influential people.

Indeed, his stellar career which was characterized by proficiency in front of goal made him one of the hottest properties in world football. He is Ivory Coast’s all-time top goalscorer with 65 goals in 105 appearances and he scored Ivory Coast’s first ever FIFA World Cup goal in 2006 against Argentina.

At Chelsea, where he was at the peak of his career, he set myriads of records including most goals scored in Cup Finals which is 9 goals.

Drogba will be remembered as one of the greatest players of his generation who even after his playing career has channeled himself towards good works in the continent and beyond.

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