Didier Drogba mobbed by fans as he enters Ivorian FA presidential race

- Didier Drogba is vying to become the next Ivory Coast FA president

- The 42-year-old officially made his candidacy public in Abidjan

- Drogba is the highest goal scorer for the Elephants in his 12-year spell

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Didier Drogba was greeted by thousands of fans in his native country in Cote d'Ivoire after confirming his interest in becoming the next FA president.

The former Chelsea striker will compete with four other candidates for the highest position in football administration in his country.

The election is slated for September 5, and the former Elephants' striker is hoping his successful footballing career with club and country would help him win the elections.

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But the former Marseille forward's ambition has suffered a huge blow after the Ivory Coast Footballers Association refuse to support his candidacy.

Drogba said: “Football is everyone's sport, football brings people together, football unites.

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“We can see it today with all these people gathered in front of the headquarters of the Ivorian football federation.

”It's no secret that our football is going badly, and that is why with my team we are committed to contributing to the rebirth of Ivorian football.

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“If my goal was not driven by a deep desire to give back to Ivorian football all that it has given me, to contribute to the development of football in my country, and if God was not in this candidacy, it would be difficult to be in front of you today,” quoted by The Sun.

Drogba remains his country's highest goal scorer with 65 goals in 105 appearances and is the third most capped player after Kolo Toure who has 120 and Didier Zokora with 123 caps respectively.

The 42-year-old represented the Elephants in three World Cup and five AFCON tournaments in his 12-year spell.

Meanwhile, it was earlier reported that Chelsea legend Didier Drogba's quest of becoming the new Ivory Coast football association president suffered a major disappointment.

The 42-year-old polled zero votes at the end of the process as 11 of the 14 delegates pitched their tents with his opposition Sory Diabate, while three persons stayed back.

Apart from the former Blues striker, the association's current vice president Idriss Diallo was also left without a single vote from the ex-players as reported by Brila.net.

Also reported that Ghanaian football legend Michael Essien has explained that ex-Ivory Coast international Didier Drogba played a significant role in making him to snub Manchester United for Chelsea.

Michael Essien was in the best form of his life when he was playing for Lyon in France in which he was wanted by many clubs in Europe.

Among the clubs who wanted to sign the African football star then were Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea which was a great battle.

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Source: YEN.com.gh