2014 Ivory Coast Home – Didier Drogba #11 Small

The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil was the third consecutive World Cup for the Ivory Coast national team, led by their golden generation of stars such as Didier Drogba, Yaya Touré, and Gervinho.

• Group Stage (Group C):

  • Ivory Coast 2–1 Japan – came from behind to win thanks to goals from Wilfried Bony and Gervinho. Drogba was introduced as a substitute and helped inspire the turnaround.

  • Colombia 2–1 Ivory Coast – despite a spirited display, goals from James Rodríguez and Juan Quintero proved too much; Gervinho scored a solo effort.

  • Greece 2–1 Ivory Coast – in a dramatic must-win match, Greece scored a last-minute penalty through Georgios Samaras to eliminate Ivory Coast.

• Result: Finished 3rd in the group with 3 points, narrowly missing out on reaching the Round of 16 for the first time.

• Kit: The 2014 Ivory Coast home jersey, made by Puma, featured the traditional orange base with subtle elephant-skin graphic patterns and green trim, symbolizing the Elephants’ strength and national pride.

2. Player’s Impact – Didier Drogba (2014 World Cup)

Didier Drogba, the iconic striker and captain, entered his third and final World Cup at age 36.

• Appearances: Played in all three group-stage matches, primarily as a substitute due to fitness and tactical rotations.

• Contributions:

  • Against Japan, Drogba’s introduction at 62 minutes changed the match. His presence lifted the team, and within minutes Ivory Coast scored twice to win 2–1.

  • Did not score in the tournament but his leadership and aura on the pitch were undeniable.

• Role: Even without scoring, Drogba’s ability to draw defenders and inspire his teammates was critical. He remained the spiritual leader of the squad.

• Legacy: The 2014 tournament marked Drogba’s farewell on the world stage. He retired from international football later that year with 65 goals in 105 appearances, cementing his status as the greatest player in Ivory Coast’s history.

3. Full Squad List – Ivory Coast 2014 World Cup

Manager: Sabri Lamouchi

Goalkeepers:

• Boubacar Barry (Lokeren)

• Sayouba Mandé (Stabæk)

• Sylvain Gbohouo (Séwé Sport)

Defenders:

• Kolo Touré (Liverpool)

• Didier Zokora (Akhisar Belediyespor)

• Serge Aurier (Toulouse)

• Souleymane Bamba (Trabzonspor)

• Arthur Boka (VfB Stuttgart)

• Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro (Toulouse)

• Constant Djakpa (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Midfielders:

• Yaya Touré (Manchester City)

• Cheick Tioté (Newcastle United)

• Max Gradel (Saint-Étienne)

• Geoffroy Serey Dié (Basel)

• Ismaël Diomandé (Saint-Étienne)

• Didier Ya Konan (Hannover 96)

Forwards:

• Didier Drogba (Galatasaray)

• Gervinho (Roma)

• Wilfried Bony (Swansea City)

• Salomon Kalou (Lille)

• Seydou Doumbia (CSKA Moscow)

• Mathis Bolly (Fortuna Düsseldorf)