Didier Drogba started his first game since his knee operation last month and scored as the Ivory Coast beat Kuwait 2–0 away in Kuwait City on Saturday in a warm-up match ahead of the MTN Africa Cup of Nations finals.
Drogba, who played as a substitute last week for his English club Chelsea in his first match back after a month-long lay-off, got the second goal of the game, the first played by the Ivorians in their build-up to the finals in Ghana.
It was the reigning African Footballer of the Year’s 30th goal for the Ivorians in 47 international appearances.
The scoring came six minutes earlier for an Ivorian team coached by Frenchman Gerard Gili, who replaced German Uli Stielike last Monday.
Stielike has temporarily handed over control of the Ivorian side after his son fell ill.
Senegal and Morocco also won a warm-up matches on Saturday beating fellow finalists at home.
English-based strikers Diomansy Kamara and Henri Camara scored for Senegal as they beat Namibia 3–1 in Dakar. Kamara netted the first two and Camara got Senegal’s third seven minutes from the end. Wingback Brian Brendell scored Namibia’s consolation goal.
Morocco netted twice before the hour mark in Fes as they overcame Zambia in their warm-up match after a goalless first half. FC Porto winger Tarik Sektioui opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Youssef Hadji was tripped and then Soufiane Alloudi added a second nine minutes later.
On Sunday, four Nations Cup finalists continue their fine tuning before the start of the tournament in Ghana on January 20.
In Portugal, Angola play Egypt in Alverca do Ribatejo while South Africa meet neighbours Mozambique in Durban. Mali, who are training in Abu Dhabi, will travel a short journey to Kish Island to meet hosts Iran.