Didier Drogba will lead a vastly experienced Ivory Coast squad in the African Nations Cup finals starting next month which includes a recall for Wigan Athletic striker Arouna Kone.

Drogba, Emmanuel Eboue, Didier Zokora, Boubacar Barry, Arthur Boka, Siaka Tiene and the Toure brothers, Kolo and Yaya, head to a fifth successive tournament.

The widely travelled Kone, who competed at the Nations Cup finals in 2006 and 2008, is back along with Spanish-based midfielder Romaric, who has also missed out in recent years.

Coach Sabri Lamouchi named a squad yesterday with just six changes from the last edition, where the Ivorians did not concede a single goal but finished runners-up.

Third choice goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare is the only uncapped player in the squad.

The Ivory Coast are to hold a 10-day training camp in Abu Dhabi from Jan. 6-16 and play a friendly against Egypt there on Jan. 14 before heading to South Africa, where they are top seeds in Group D alongside Algeria, Togo and Tunisia.

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