Ivory Coast skipper Didier Drogba has been included in the team's preliminary squad for the 2008 African Cup of Nations despite having a knee surgery last Saturday. The Chelsea forward, who is expected to be out of action until the competition's kickoff in January, was named by coach Uli Stielike in a 26-man squad. The Elephants squad is boosted with European-based stars, with Africa Sports goalkeeper Tiassa Kone the only local player. The CAN 2006 runners-up will tackle Nigeria, Mali and Benin in Group B of the Ghana finals. Ivory Coast Squad: Goalkeepers: Boubacar Barry (Lokeren, Belgium), Tiassa Kone (Africa Sports), Stephan Loboue (SpVgg Greuther Furth, Germany). Defenders: Athur Boka (VfB Stuttgart, Germany), Guy Demel (Hamburg SV, Germany), Constant Djakpa (Pandurii Targu Jiu, Romania), Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal, England), Steve Gohouri (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Germany), Abdoulaye Meite (Bolton Wanderers, England), Kolo Toure (Arsenal, England), Marc Zoro (Benfica, Portugal). Midfielders: Emerse Fae (Reading, England), Christian Koffi Ndri (Le Mans, France), Siaka Tiene (St Etienne, France), Gilles Yapi Yapo (Young Boys Berne, Switzerland), Yaya Toure (Barcelona, Spain), Didier Zokora (Tottenham Hotspur, England). Forwards: Aruna Dindane (Racing Lens, France), Amara Diane (Paris St Germain, France), Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou (Chelsea, England), Abdul-Kader Keita (Olympique Lyon, France), Arouna Kone (Sevilla, Spain), Bakary Kone (Nice, France), Gervais Yao Kouassi (Le Mans, France), Boubacar Sanogo (Werder Bremen, Germany).