AFCON 2015 Qualifiers: Serge Aurier Open to Didier Drogba’s Return to the Elephants
As Ivory Coast prepares for decisive AFCON 2015 qualifiers against Sierra Leone and Cameroon, the question of whether Didier Drogba should return to the national team has resurfaced. The Elephants are currently level on points (6) with DR Congo, making the race for qualification tighter than expected.
In response to the speculation, Serge Aurier, the Ivory Coast right-back and Paris Saint-Germain player, shared his thoughts with clarity:
“Every match, when we’re in trouble, there are a lot of fans chanting his name. Didier Drogba is a legend for our country, for Africa. It’s a bit normal that people haven’t yet come to terms with the fact that he’s gone.”
Aurier expressed support for a potential return:
“If Didier Drogba decided to return to the national team, I wouldn’t be against it. It wouldn’t bother me. But I’m not the one making the choices. It’s the coach. That’s what he’s there for. Personally, if Didier comes back, I think it would be a good thing. There are a lot of young players in this team. Coaching us wouldn’t hurt.”
Despite his openness, Aurier tempered expectations:
“We can’t always follow what the fans say or want. We’re waiting. We’ll see. But I don’t think he’ll come back.”
With or without Drogba, Hervé Renard’s men face an uphill battle as they aim to secure their place in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
