Ivory Coast star Drogba confirmed in friendly squad

Crack striker Didier Drogba will don the Ivory Coast shirt Wednesday when his compatriots play Guinea near Paris in a friendly international after coach Vahid Halilhodzic named the Chelsea hitman in a 22-man squad.

A knee injury forced the dreadlocked Chelsea star to miss an Ivorian tour of Japan last May and four 2010 World Cup-African Nations Cup qualifiers the following month.

Drogba, who had knee surgery last year, returns along with fit-again Barcelona 'enforcer' Yaya Toure for the 'Elephants'.

Halilhodzic sprung a surprise by selecting Spain-based Felix Djah, who won the last of three caps seven years ago, and Aruna Dindane, Arouna Kone and Bakary Kone are also back in the squad.

Ivory Coast have fond memories of Guinea, crushing them 5-0 in a 2008 African Nations Cup quarter-final in Ghana last February with Drogba triggering a late four-goal blitz.

Drogba last featured in February when the Ivory Coast lost their third match playoff at the African Nations Cup to hosts Ghana.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Boubacar Barry (Lokeren Sporting/BEL), Aristide Zogbo (FC Shorta/EGY)

Defenders: Arthur Boka (Stuttgart/GER), Emmanuel Eboue, Kolo Toure (both Arsenal/ENG), Abdoulaye Meite (West Bromwich/ENG), Marc Zoro (Benfica/POR), Guy Demel (SV Hamburg/GER), Siaka Tiene (Saint Etienne/FRA), Igor Lolo (KRC Genk/BEL)

Midfielders: Didier Zokora (Tottenham/ENG), Akale Kanga (RC Lens/FRA), Emerse Fae (Nice/FRA), Christian Manfredini (Lazio/ITA), Gilles Yapi Yapo (Young Boys Berne/SUI), Félix Ettien Dja (Levante/ESP), Yaya Touré (FC Barcelona/ESP)

Strikers: Didier Drogba (Chelsea/ENG), Boubacar Sanogo (Werder Bremen/GER), Emile Kandia Traore (FC Sochaux/FRA), Bakari Kone “Baky” (Marseille/FRA), Aruna Dindane (Lens/FRA).