Didier Drogba is preparing to take on a new position in Ivory Coast

Didier Drogba, a Chelsea great, has disclosed his aspirations for a new position in Ivory Coast football later this month.

Since winning the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, the Elephants have failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, with their most recent appearance being at the 2014 tournament in Brazil.

Political unrest has been highlighted as one of the causes of the country’s problems, and Drogba, who is standing for president of the Ivorian Football Federation, has promised to improve the status of the game in his hometown ahead of the elections on April 23.

“I participate because I believe I can win,” Drogba told BBC Sport Africa.

“I can bring the change that the federation and the clubs need.

“Football isn’t rising the way it should and the way we want it in Ivory Coast.”

The two-time Afcon winners are due to host the next edition of the continental championship in June and July 2023, and the retired player is hoping the leadership process will go well after being told he did not meet the qualifications to be elected in 2020.

FIFA was forced to step in and form a normalisation committee, which has been in charge of football in Ivory Coast since December 2020.

“I hope the elections will be done in the most democratic way possible,” Drogba added.

“I was able to stand but the electoral process was stopped because of bad governance. I have been a part of this election process.”

“There are a lot of problems, but the main problem is that the players are not paid well,” Drogba continued.

“The club owners don’t receive their financial allocation on time to make the clubs function.

“There is no real organisation and you can feel that at the highest level.

“Today, it is more difficult for Ivory Coast to qualify for the World Cup. We have missed the last two World Cups due to internal fights that have been going on since 2014.”