The Ivory Coast coach Ulrich Stielike has confirmed injured captain Didier Drogba in a preliminary squad of 30 for next month's African Nations Cup. Drogba underwent knee surgery recently but is expected to recover in time for the tournament in Ghana.

The striker was part of the 23-man Ivorian squad that finished runners-up at the 2006 Nations Cup in Egypt.

Goalkeeper Tiassa Kone from new Ivory Coast champions Africa Sports is the only home-based player in the squad.

The Ivory Coast play in Group B in Sekondi with Nigeria, Mali and Benin, at the tournament which runs from 20 January to 10 February.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Boubacar Barry (KS Lokeren, Belgium), Aristide Zogbo (FC Shorta, Egypt), Tiasse Kone (Africa Sports), Stephan Loboue (Greuther Furth, Germany)

Defenders: Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal, England), Kolo Toure (Arsenal, Germany), Arthur Boka (Stuttgart, Germany), Guy Demel (Hamburg, Germany), Constant Djakpa (Pandurii Targu Jiu, Romania), Steve Gohouri (Borussia Monchengladbach, Germany), Abdoulaye Meite (Bolton, England), Marc Zoro (Benfica, Portugal), Serge Wawa (Asec Mimosas), Ousmane Viera Diarrassouba (Reveil Club Daloa)

Midfielders: Emerse Fae (Reading, England), Christian Koffi Ndri Romaric (Le Mans, France), Siaka Tiene (Saint Etienne, France), Gilles Yapi Yapo (Young Boys Berne, SwitzerlandI), Yaya Toure (Barcelona, Spain), Didier Zokora (Tottenham, England)

Forwards: Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou (both Chelsea, England), Aruna Dindane (Lens, France), Amara Diane (PSG, France), Abdelkader Keita (Lyon, France), Arouna Koné (Sevilla, Spain), Bakary Kone (Nice, France), Gervais Yao Kouassi "Gervinho" (Le Mans, France), Boubacar Sanogo (Werder Bremen, Germany), Cissé Sékou (Roda JC, Holland)