Semi-final day in Africe

Later today (Wednesday), Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou will aim to propel their national side into the final of the Africa Cup of Nations. Ivory Coast have justified their status as pre-tournament favourites with steady if not spectacular progress to the semi-final stage where they take on Mali. Drogba too has produced good form and is joint tournament top goalscorer with three goals. Never before in the African continental competition has there been a side so recognisable to followers of English top-flight football and the Elephants did not concede a goal in the three group games (a 1-0 win against Sudan and 2-0 victories over Burkina Faso and Angola), nor in the quarter-final when they overcame joint-host nation Equatorial Guinea 3-0. Drogba netted twice in that match and he could have recorded a hat-trick had he not missed a penalty with the game still scoreless. The exuberance of his celebration when he scored only a few minutes later made clear the weight of expectation he carries as the captain and the most revered footballer in the history of Ivory Coast. 'My teammates encouraged me and were very supportive,' Drogba said in the aftermath of that match. 'I had to get back in the game and I owe them these goals. I'm glad I did it for them and I am proud of my team mates. 'In 2006 we were in the final and lost. In 2008 we scored many goals but failed to reach the final. Here we have shown character.' Kalou's participation in the semi-final is not certain. He was outstanding at the start of the tournament, creating and scoring, but suffered a hamstring problem in the second group match and has only played the final five minutes of the quarter-final since. 'We are concerned about him but he is showing signs of recovery,' Ivory Coast manager Francois Zahoui reported ahead of today's match. 'We'll see before the game but we hope to be able to play him because he is a major player in the team. The doctors are doing their best to get him fit.' Ivory Coast last won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1992. In the 2006 final they played Egypt in Cairo and suffered the heartbreak of a penalty shoot-out defeat. Drogba missed that day too which can only add to the motivation to make this year's final. Those who also think this is the 33-year-old's last chance to win a trophy on the international stage should maybe think again. There will be another Africa Cup of Nations next year as the normally biennial tournament switches to odd years so it no longer takes place in World Cup years. Today's opponents for Ivory Coast, Mali, needed penalties to overcome the other host nation Gabon in their quarter-final. They finished second in their group behind Ghana. Their most famous player and captain is Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita and they are managed by Alain Giresse, part of a famous midfield that starred for France in the 1980s when they were crowned European champions. Giresse denies he is making special plans to stop Drogba. Today's other semi-final in the Africa is between Ghana and Zambia. Ivory Coast v Mali kicks-off at 7pm UK time and will be screened live on British Eurosport in the UK.