Drogba out for Ivorians

[TheGift]

Didier Drogba will miss Côte d'Ivoire's opening 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa qualifier against Mozambique on Sunday because of injury, the Ivorian Football Federation said on Wednesday.

No details were given of the injury but the Chelsea striker joins Aruna Dindane and Gneri Yaya Toure on the sidelines for the African zone Group Seven match in Abidjan.

Drogba was sent off during extra time in last Wednesday's UEFA Champions League final defeat by Manchester United in Moscow.

Racing Lens striker Dindane was ruled out for six months after rupturing knee ligaments at the start of the month while Barcelona midfielder Toure recently underwent back surgery.

New Ivorian coach Vahid Halilhodzic has included in his squad Arsenal defender Kolo Toure, who missed two warmup friendlies in Japan, and handed a first callup to Dunfermline Athletic defender Souleymane Bamba.

FIFA.com - Drogba out for Ivorians