The Chelsea striker announced that he does not wish to be considered for future African Player of the Year awards, after Mali striker Frederic Kanoute won the 2007 title last Friday.

The Ivorian claims he was told he had won but had to travel to Togo to accept the prize - an allegation the Confederation of African Football strongly refutes.

'This attitude doesn't honour Africa, so I've pulled out of future elections,' said Drogba.

'I was going to send my wife to the awards in case there was a prize to receive.

'Then I was informed by somebody from CAF that she would not be welcomed, and that the rules could change if I wasn't there. The award would be given to the person who had finished second. That shocked me.'

Since 2005, the Asian Football Federation has also followed a controversial rule that made attendance at its awards ceremony mandatory.

That has excluded prominent Asian players who play in Europe.

Drogba will also have to bury the nightmare of the 2006 African Nations Cup final in Egypt. The hosts won on penalties following a 0-0 draw.

The Ivory Coast had complained about a number of refereeing decisions then.

And Drogba squandered the best chance of the game late in the second half, and also missed the first penalty in the shoot-out.

His Chelsea and international teammate Salomon Kalou has no doubts as to how the explosive clash will turn out this time.

'If we play as a team, no one can stop us,' he said, amid the good news that Arsenal defender Kolo Toure has recovered from injury to play against the champions.

Not that Egypt are worried, despite struggling to impress against the likes of Zambia and Angola.

The Ivory Coast and Egypt have clashed nine times in the African Nations Cup since the 1970 edition in Khartoum, Sudan.

The Egyptians have won six, while two games have ended in draws. The Ivorians triumphed only once - a 3-1 win recorded in 1990.

'The Ivory Coast have a very good team, but so have we,' said Egypt assistant coach Shawky Gharib.

'We played them in the final and group phase at the last African Nations Cup.

'They didn't beat us then, so we're not worried about them.'

Egypt are sweating on the fitness of Hamburg striker Mohamed Zidan, the driving force who led them to a 4-2 win over Cameroon in the opening Group C match.

Another Chelsea player will also be under the spotlight when Ghana play their semi-final against Cameroon.

With captain and defensive rock John Mensah suspended, Ghana coach Claude Le Roy has hinted that Michael Essien might be used as the central defender against formidable Cameroon and Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o.

REUTERS