Football legend and former Côte d’Ivoire captain Didier Drogba has expressed disappointment over his country’s elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the campaign as “disgraceful” after the Elephants were knocked out by Norway.
Drogba reacted following Côte d’Ivoire’s defeat, which ended the team’s hopes of progressing further in the tournament. The former Chelsea striker criticised the team’s performance and questioned the standards displayed during the competition.
The Ivorian football icon said the country’s early exit was difficult to accept, especially considering the quality of players available to the national team and the high expectations of supporters.
According to him, Côte d’Ivoire possesses enough talent to compete with the world’s best teams and should have performed much better on football’s biggest stage.
Drogba’s remarks have sparked widespread discussions among football fans and analysts, with many describing the team’s campaign as one of the major disappointments of the tournament.
Norway’s victory secured their place in the knockout stages and marked another impressive outing for the European side, which has emerged as one of the surprise packages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
For Côte d’Ivoire, however, the elimination brings an abrupt end to a campaign that began with optimism but ultimately ended in frustration and criticism from one of the nation’s most celebrated football figures.
The result is expected to trigger fresh debates over the direction of Ivorian football and possible changes within the national team setup as the country begins preparations for future international competitions.
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