Seydou Doumbia of Ivory Coast
Cote d’Ivoire is a team laced with household names, but it is lesser known Russia-based forward Seydou Doumbia who many believe could be the star to watch.
Didier Drogba, Yaya and Kolo Toure, Gervinho, Salomon Kalou and Cheick Tiote are already well known for their exploits for club and country, but Doumbia could benefit from all the attention on his superstar teammates.
Cote d’Ivoire coach Francois Zahoui has placed an emphasis on not relying on individuals during the Africa Nations Cup, but has focused on the whole team chipping in when it matters most.
“I want to rely on all the players and not just an individual,” said Zahoui.
At the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa Doumbia played in just one match, a 3-0 win over North Korea.
The powerful forward can expect to play a bigger role at this year’s Afcon finals with Côte d’Ivoire coach Zahoui hailing his efforts against South Africa in a friendly international in the absence of Drogba.
“The absence of Drogba did not affect us negatively because we were able to plug that hole with Doumbia. We can’t rely on our so-called superstars. During the 2010 World Cup, Drogba was injured and we still relied on him and it backfired.”
Zahoui says that he has learned from his fellow Afcon favourites Ghana, who are renowned for not being affected by the absence of star players at major tournaments.
“We have learned from Ghana. Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari are their key players but their coach got results even without them.”
Doumbia has moved from the J-League in Japan to Switzerland’s BSC Young Boys before settling at Russian side CSKA Moscow.
In Switzerland, the Ivorian was Player of the Year as well as top scorer in the 2008/09 and 2009/10 seasons.
Back in 2005, Doumbia was top goal scorer in the Ivorian league and has 24 goals in 30 appearances for CSKA this season. That haul has sparked interest from European clubs in the bigger leagues, prompting his CSKA coach Leonid Slutsky to say, “He is a big asset for any team.”