Ivory Coast arrives in Tanzania

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is part of the Cote D`ivoire national team, The Elephants that arrives in Dr es Saalam, Tanzania tomorrow (Saturday) to pitch camp ahead of the Orange CAN 2010 in Angola.
The 50-man delegation including players and officials is expected to arrive in the afternoon before their first build-up against Taifa Stars of Tanzania on Monday at the National Stadium.
The secretary general of the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), Fredrick Mwakalebela, told Cafonline.com that Cote D’Ivoire Coast that will also represent the continent in the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa will also battle Rwanda at the same venue three days after the Monday game. Mwakalebela said the two matches, which form part of Cote d’Ivoire’s build up for the Orange Africa Cup of Nations finals will also be a showcase for Tanzania fans and players alike.
“The arrival of the two teams will give us experience to host other countries which we are still negotiating with to use Tanzania as a base for their build up and training ahead of the World Cup finals in South Africa,” said Mwakalebela.
Mwakalebela said The Elephants are expected to fly in with English premiership regulars in the likes of Chelsea’s Didier Drogba and Solomon Kalou, Yaya Toure who features for the reigning European Champions League winners Barcelona. Others are Aruna Dindane and Manchester City’s Habib Kolo Toure.
Meanwhile, Taifa Stars head coach Marcio Maximo has said his players are at high morale ahead of the friendly opener of the year. “The response is good and fans should expect a good performance,” said Maximo. However, Maximo said the team’s trio of Mussa Hassan, Kelvin Yondan and Shadrack Nsajigwa are doubtful