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LETHAL: Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba plays the ball past Portugal's Pedro Mendes during a 2010 World Cup match. The striker is key to his country's hopes of reaching Brazil 2014, as qualifiers kick off. PHOTO: REUTERS

 Didier Drogba is key to his country's hopes of reaching Brazil 2014, as qualifiers kick off 

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Drogba, still to settle his future after confirming his exit from Chelsea, plays for the first time for his country since missing a crucial penalty in February's Africa Cup of Nations final against Zambia. But that failure has been forgotten in the euphoria of his leading role in his English club's win over Bayern Munich on May 19 and the renewal of his commitment to the national cause for the immediate future.

"As usual, we have put ourselves at the disposal of our country's ambitions," he told a news conference in Abidjan as the Ivorian squad arrived from a training camp in France ahead of their opening Group C match against Tanzania tomorrow.

The match is one of 20 at the weekend as Africa begins the race to decide the five countries to go to Brazil in two years' time.

There are 10 groups to be decided between now and September next year, after which the winners will go into two-legged play-off matches in October and November 2013 to decide the qualifiers.

The Ivorians, the continent's top-ranked side, played at the last two World Cups but on Monday brutally fired Francois Zahoui and replaced him with former France international Sabri Lamouchi, who has no coaching experience.

"I understand the dissatisfaction of some Ivorians. They certainly have reason to doubt me. But in life there is always a starting point and I hope my first time will be good," Lamouchi said. Last-minute decisions over coaches have been mirrored across the continent.