Bobo Sure He Can Win Drog Fight

Feb 3 2008

CELTIC stopper Bobo Balde insists he's relishing a battle with Chelsea superstar Didier Drogba for a place in the Africa Cup Of Nations semi-final.

The giant Parkhead defender will lead his Guinea side into a clash with tournament favourites Ivory Coast today.

Balde will come face to face with Drogba but believes his country can cause the biggest shock of the competition by sending the Ivorians home.

Bobo said: "For us this match against the Ivory Coast is like a final.

"After the first phase any knock-out game is going to be difficult but mentally we're prepared for battle.

"We don't fear Drogba or his team. It's only 11 players and we know it will be a hard, intense match.

"We are capable of beating them. Ivory Coast are favourites but that's a positive because we're under no pressure.

"I know a fight with Drogba isn't easy.

"I see him playing in the English Premiership and hopefully I've noticed some small details to exploit and stop his natural game.

"We need him not to function at his best because I believe he provides around 70 per cent of the Ivory Coast's attacking threat."

Balde admits the quarter-final is one of the biggest games of his career and he'd love to be part of a Guinea side who go all the way to the final.

He said: "Maybe this is one of the most important matches of my life.

"It's not a surprise we have reached this stage because we have put in a lot of work to get here.

"If we can beat the Ivory Coast it will be the major story of this Africa Cup of Nations.

"It would also give us a massive injection of morale to help us follow our dream of reaching the final.

"We will have a lot of fans there and want to make them happy - they're expecting a historic match."