Ivory Coast striker pays tribute to Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto'o ahead of AFCON 2015 clash against Cameroon on January 28
Ahead of Group D’s biggest clash between two of the toughest teams in the 2015 African Cup of Nations, Cote D’Ivoire and Cameroon; the former’s striker, Salomon Kalou
says it is unimaginable for the two already retired internationals not
to be a part of Africa’s most prestigious football competition.
Speaking to FIFA.com, the Hertha Berlin striker said the absence of the two veterans is like playing Real Madrid without Zinedine Zidane and Barcelona without Ronaldinho in those days. However, he assented that they will not be missed much, as players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi heralded new eras, so have younger players come up in African football
''It's
difficult to imagine. But it's a little like if you tried a few years
ago to imagine Barça without Ronaldinho and Real without Zinedine
Zidane, and yet today we have Messi and Ronaldo.
''Both teams always have new players who come in and take over.
''Even
if the two teams will miss Didier and Samuel greatly, a match
between Côte d'Ivoire and Cameroon is always huge and it's been that way
for a while.
''There's a big rivalry between the sides and that will carry on, even after the retirement of those two great players.’’
Kalou, ended with describing the pair as legends of African football and role model for youngsters
''Both
players pushed African football beyond its limits. Today, Eto'o and
Drogba represent not just Côte d'Ivoire and Cameroon but the success of
an entire continent, and they've set an example for youngsters across
the whole of Africa, and not just in football.
''The
fact that they experienced success with their countries and also the
big clubs they've played for has opened doors for all of us. Thanks to
them, when an African player joins a club, people respect him more.
They've set the best possible example of what you can expect from an
African player.’’
Cote D'Ivoire kick start
their AFCON 2015 campaign against Guinea in Malabo at 5pm Nigerian time
with Cameroon facing Mali three hours later.
The two rivals play play the last Group game on January 28.
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