Drogba left out of Ivory Coast squad

ABIDJAN (AFP) - Star striker Didier Drogba has been left out of the Ivory Coast squad for the March 23 World Cup qualifier against Gambia in Abidjan.

Galatasaray's Drogba was one of six players who featured at the Africa Cup of Nations this year overlooked for the game by coach Sabri Lamouchi.

Siaka Tiene (Paris SG), Emmanuel Eboue (Galatasaray), Romaric N'Dri Koffi (Real Zaragoza), Daniel Yeboah (Dijon) and Igor Lolo (FC Kuban Krasnodar) were also left out.

Ivory Coast lead Group C with four points, ahead of Tanzania (3pts), Morocco (2pts) and Gambia (1pt)

Squad

Goalkeepers: Boubacar Barry (Lokeren/BEL), Ali Badra Sangare (Ivoire Academie), Abdoul Karim Cisse (Africa Sports), Sylvain Gbohouo (Sewe San Pedro)

Defenders: Souleymane Bamba (Trazbonspor/TUR), Kolo Toure (Manchester City/ENG), Didier Zokora (Trazbonspor/TUR), Arthur Boka (Stuttgart/GER), Ismael Traore (Brest/FRA), Benjamin Angoua Brou (Valenciennes/FRA), Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro (Toulouse/FRA)

Midfielders: Yaya Toure (Manchester City (ENG), Didier Ya Konan (Hanover 96/GER), Max Gradel (Saint-Etienne/FRA), Abdul Razak (Manchester City/ENG), Cheick Ismael Tiote (Newcastle/ENG), Losseni Karaboue (Nancy/FRA), Giovanni Sio (Sochaux/FRA), Geoffroy Serey Die (Basel/SUI), Emmanuel Kone Kouamatien (Sedan/FRA)

Attackers: Gervinho (Arsenal/ENG), Salomon Kalou (Lille/FRA), Wilfried Bony (Vitesse Arnhem/NED), Lacina Traore (Anzhi Makhachkala/RUS), Arouna Kone (Wigan/ENG), Seydou Doumbia (CSKA Moscow/RUS), Gerard Bi Goua Gohou (Kayseri/TUR), Kevin Zougoula (Sewe San Pedro).