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Didier Drogba scores as Ivory Coast beat Austria 3-0
Didier Drogba (c) congratulates Didier Ya Konan (2nd L) for scoringthe first goal. PHOTO/Alexander Klein/AFP
Captain Didier Drogba was among the scorers as title favourites Ivory Coast warmed up for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations with a 3-0 friendly victory in Austria Wednesday.
Veteran striker Drogba, who moved to China last year after helping Chelsea win a maiden Champions League title, scored on 61 minutes in Linz to put the Elephants two goals ahead.
Lacina Traore completed a comfortable win for the No 1 ranked African national football team with a goal 14 minutes from time after Didier Ya Konan opened the scoring just before half-time.
It was an encouraging result for the Ivorians, who lacked injured Arsenal forward Gervinho, as they seek a second Cup of Nations title in South Africa next February.
But to conquer Africa, Ivory Coast must ditch a ‘chokers’ tag after losing two of the last four finals against hosts Egypt and surprise package Zambia following penalty shootouts.
Drogba said last month that the 2013 Cup of Nations will be his last, and it is also likely to be the final shot at glory for ageing stars like Kolo Toure and Didier Zokora.
While Ivory Coast are 53 places above Austria on the FIFA world rankings, the ease with which they succeeded can only boost morale ahead of a January 22 Cup of Nations opener against Togo in Rustenburg.
