ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast -- Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba
has hope of playing in the World Cup after having surgery on his broken
right arm in a Swiss hospital Saturday.
The Ivory Coast football federation (FIF) said in a statement the operation at the Lindenhof Hospital in Berne was a success and Swiss doctors and the team's medical staff are confident that the Chelsea forward will make a "speedy recovery."
The federation did not give further details about the time required for Drogba's recovery. Ivory Coast's first game is June 15 against Portugal.
"The FIF thank the sporting world and all those in the Ivory Coast, in Africa and throughout the world who have shown their support to Didier Drogba and the Ivory Coast," read a statement on the FIF website.
"He's not at all out of the World Cup. He can still play. We don't know if he will be able to play the first game -- that depends on the verdict of the medical team. But he's definitely not out [of the tournament].''
Drogba broke his arm in an exhibition match against Japan on Friday.
Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba likely out of World Cup
SION, Switzerland (AP) — Didier Drogba told teammate Kolo Toure that he will miss the World Cup after breaking his right arm Friday in a warmup match.
"For him, he said, the World Cup is finished,"
Toure said.
The 32-year-old Drogba was taken off 15 minutes
into Ivory Coast's 2-0 win over Japan after a high challenge by Japan
defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka.
He was then rushed to a hospital.
"We can just see on his face that he was sad and
when he is like that you can't ask more," Toure said. "It is difficult
for us because he is such a really important player."
Team spokesman Eric Kacou told the Associated
Press that "it is a fracture in his right arm," but coach Sven-Goran Eriksson
said the team hadn't officially ruled its captain out.
"We are not sure yet," Eriksson said, saying
Drogba's participation was "still a possibility."
Toure said Ivory Coast's players were hoping for a
surprising recovery, and said the team would know more later Friday.
Drogba scored 29 goals in 32 Premier League
matches this season, helping Chelsea win the title. He also has 45
goals in 70 appearances for his country.
Friday's friendly was the final warmup for Ivory
Coast and Japan before they travel to South Africa. The Ivorians open
the World Cup on June 15 against Portugal in Port Elizabeth, while Japan
begins a day earlier against Cameroon in Bloemfontein.
Drogba appeared to be holding his right side
after Tulio's challenge. After returning from the hospital, the striker
entered the team bus without speaking to reporters.
Eriksson said the injury was unlucky, and didn't
blame Tulio.
"It wasn't bad or stupid. He didn't want to hurt
anyone," the Swedish coach said. "Football is a game of contact."
Tulio said he had no intention to hurt Drogba.
"God and everybody in the stadium saw it was a
normal challenge," said the Brazil-born defender, who was shown a yellow
card. "I do hope he gets better in time to play in the World Cup."
Two minutes before the challenge, Drogba's
22-yard free kick was deflected by Tulio into his own net.
Toure scored from close range in the 81st minute,
meeting a free kick with a crisp shot.
FIFA rules stipulate that a player can be
replaced because of injury up to 24 hours before a team's first match.
That gives Ivory Coast 10 days to see if Drogba's
condition improves. The Ivorians also play Brazil and North Korea in
Group G.
Drogba's setback follows the injuries sustained
by Chelsea teammates Michael Ballack and
Michael Essien. Ballack, Germany's captain,
and Essien, Ghana's star
midfielder, were both ruled out of the World Cup last month.