Drogba prepares for last chance with Ivory Coast

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea (AP)—It may be Didier Drogba’s last chance to win the African Cup of Nations as Ivory Coast once again begins its quest for a long-awaited continental title.

The 33-year-old Chelsea striker hopes to mark a decade on his national team with triumph in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea after disappointments in 2006, ’08 and ’10.

In the absence of Egypt, Cameroon and Nigeria, Drogba and the highly rated Ivorian squad may never have a better opportunity as the tournament favorite prepares to start its campaign against outsider Sudan in Group B on Sunday.

In back-to-back matches on the second day of the African Cup, Burkina Faso and Angola will also meet at Estadio de Malabo on Sunday, with both aiming to be the Ivorians’ main challenger in the group.