Six candidates have officially filed their candidacy for the presidency of the Ivorian Football federation (FIF) scheduled for April 23, including former star striker Didier Drogba, the current FIF leadership announced Sunday.
“The filing of candidacies for the presidency of the Ivorian soccer federation is closed. Six candidates have been registered. They are: Yatte Ellele Jean-Baptiste, Arnaud Aka, Laurent Kouakou, Idriss Diallo, Sory Diabaté and Didier Drogba,” said Mariam Dao Gabala, chairwoman of the FIF Normalization Committee, at a press conference.
Didier Drogba came to submit his application earlier this afternoon at the headquarters of the federation.
“Finally here we are! I cannot wait for the campaign to start. Trust me to give life to Ivorian soccer if I am elected,” he said, praising a candidacy of “unity.
Despite his status, he is not necessarily the favorite of this election, because of the lack of support within the Ivorian clubs.
This election has already been postponed several times since 2020, due to an imbroglio on the sponsorship system for candidates.
FIF had been put under supervision in December 2020 by Fifa, which installed a “Normalization Committee” to try to resolve this crisis.
“We are ready for these elections and we must show a good image of Côte d’Ivoire through a peaceful election. I ask everyone not to add to the crisis,” said Ms. Dao Gabala on Sunday.
The latter must leave her post after the election of the new president on April 23.