Zokora brings an end to Elephants career

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In Summary

During the Nations Cup in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, Zokora said he would retire from international football should Côte d’Ivoire win the title. He did in fact retire on February 28, 2012, despite the Les Elephants going down to Zambia 8–7 in a penalty shoot-out only to be recalled again.

Ivorian midfielder Didier Zokora has announced his international retirement after more than a decade with the national team. “After 15-years at the highest level, I think it’s time for me to end my international career” the 33-year-old said on the sidelines of a football tournament organized in his honour in the Abidjan suburb of Williamsville. “It is time to give chance to the younger ones. In the game against Sierra Leone, I saw some young players who can validly fit in.”

Zokora nicknamed ‘Maestro’ enjoyed an illustrious playing career with the Elephants since making his debut in 2000. With a record 121 caps, he featured in five successive Africa Cup of Nations; 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2013, as well the Elephants only three appearances at the World Cup (2006, 2010, 2014).

Best export

The defensive midfielder, currently on the books of Turkish side, Akhisar Belediyespor, is unarguably one of the best Ivorian football exports after stints in Racing Genk (Belgium), Saint-Etienne (France), Tottenham Hotspur (England), Sevilla (Spain) and Trabzonspor (Turkey). He was a product of the ASEC Mimosas class of 1998 that won the CAF Champions League, beating Dynamos of Zimbabwe in the final.

Zokora is the latest high profile Ivorian player to announce his retirement after former captain and Chelsea striker Didier Drogba stood down last month. Drogba is still one of the most feared strikers in world football.

FOLLOWING IN DIDIER DROGBA’S FOOTSTEPS

Legend. Didier Drogba was the first high-profile Ivorian to announce his retirement from international football on August 8. The 36-year-old Chelsea forward posted a statement on his Twitter account confirming he had played his last game for the Ivory Coast. He said: “It is with much sadness that I have decided to retire from international football. These past 12 years in the national team have been full of emotions.”

Workaholic. Zokora played 118 international matches for the Côte d’Ivoire and is their most capped player of all time. He scored his only goal at the international level in a 4–0 defeat of Botswana on June 22, 2008 that moved Côte d’Ivoire to the top of their group in World Cup qualifiers. During his twelve years with the national side, Zokora helped Les Éléphants to their first two World Cup finals appearances in 2006 and 2010.