Didier Zokora Signs with Akhisar Belediyespor, Considers International Retirement
Veteran Ivorian defender Didier Zokora has found a new home in Turkey, signing with Süper Lig side Akhisar Belediyespor following a brief spell as a free agent. The move comes just months after Zokora represented Ivory Coast at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
The former Tottenham and Sevilla midfielder, affectionately known as “Maestro,” has been a stalwart in the Elephants’ squad for over a decade. However, at 33, Zokora has revealed he is contemplating stepping away from international football.
Speaking to Sport-Ivoire, the nation’s most-capped player suggested that his time in the Ivorian jersey may be coming to an end. “I think it’s time to take this international retirement,” he said. “Now, it’s true that I’ve received several calls from certain personalities in the country.”
Despite leaning toward retirement, Zokora admitted that the final decision may not rest entirely with him. “If the President of the Republic tells me, ‘You have to play for your country,’ I think it would be a bit complicated, and I certainly wouldn’t have a choice,” he added.
Zokora’s potential exit from the national team follows closely on the heels of Didier Drogba’s retirement, marking the end of an era for Ivorian football. Both players were central figures in what is widely considered the country’s golden generation.
With his club future now settled in Turkey, Zokora is expected to focus on the domestic season while leaving the door slightly ajar for a possible national team encore — albeit under exceptional circumstances.
