The first sign that African football legend Didier Drogba’s continued stay as special advisor to Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) president Ahmad Ahmad was no longer tenable emerged when former Ivory Coast captain announced that he will run for president of his national federation in August, last year.
Ahmad was reported to be unhappy that the tomb that fell under Drogba will not be well maintained as the former Chelsea player had declared that he would run against his strong ally, Augustin Sidy Diallo.
Leading African sports journalist Mamadou Gaye, however, suggests that Drogba’s dismissal is based on the football legend’s failure to honour his duties under Ahmad.
When naming Drogba, Ahmad termed the appointment as “massive” and will be crucial in moving African football to the next level.
The CAF boss made him in charge of finding contacts and expertise for the improvement of the beautiful game in Africa.
But after the appointment, Drogba has been largely been involved on personal projects in Ivory Coast and rarely made to Cairo to offer advice to his boss.
Drogba has had endless gaffes, with the most recent one being open support to the recent report by auditing firm Price Waterhouse Cooper (PwC) report that unearthed gross misappropriations of CAF finances. He failed to read the signs of the time after Ahmad’s office failed to send him an invite to 2020 Africa Nations Championship draw that was recently made in Cameroon.
The only occasion that he attended since last year was a seminar on Development of Competitions and Infrastructure in Africa that was held in the Moroccan city of Sale. The seminar brought together African football and was addressed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Ahmad.
During the event, Infantino made an ambitious proposal to shift the Africa Cup of Nations from a two-year cycle to being held after every four years.
Other reforms were also suggested by FIFA at the meeting and were supported by Drogba, something that Ahmad’s camp strongly opposes in their quest to stay in power.
