Soccer pro Didier Drogba submits candidacy to become President of Ivory Coast

Jammu, Aug 2: Didier Drogba is an Ivorian retired professional footballer who played as a striker. He is the all-time top scorer and former captain of the Ivory Coast national team. He is best known for his career at Chelsea, for whom he has scored more goals than any other foreign player and is currently the club's fourth highest goal scorer of all time.
On Saturday, Didier Drogba attracted large crowd who are eager to see him submit his candidacy, before the deadline, for next month’s Ivory Coast Football Federation elections.
The 42-year-old former African Footballer is one of four candidates seeking the presidency of West African Country’s Football Association.
But he is still not explicit to be on the ballot for the September 5 vote.
On top of needing nominations from three of the 14 Ligue 1 clubs and two from the lower divisions, Drogba must have the endorsement of any five special interest groups: coaches, doctors, current and former players, and referees.
They have not all made public who they are backing, and the candidates are first vetted by an electoral commission before qualifying to stand in the elections.That outcome is expected to take five days, a federation spokesman said.
Drogba had until 5 pm local time to submit his candidacy and was eagerly followed as he arrived at the Ivorian federation’s offices in a presidential-style convoy of cars.
“Football is everyone’s sport, football brings people together, football unites. We can see it today with all these people gathered in front of the headquarters of the Ivorian football federation,” Drogba told reporters.