Brighton attacker Simon Adingra urged to 'work hard' to emulate Didier Drogba

Published on: 16 January 2025

Ivory Coast head coach, Emerse Fae, has urged Simon Adingra to build a career that mirrors the legendary Didier Drogba’s journey.

Adingra gained widespread recognition after playing a crucial role in Ivory Coast’s victory at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), setting up the winning goal for Sebastian Haller.

The 23-year-old was named the tournament's best young player and later finished as runner-up for the CAF Men’s Player of the Year award behind Ademola Lookman.

While acknowledging Adingra’s talent, Fae emphasized that the two players are distinct in style.

"I don't like to compare players. Drogba is Drogba and Adingra is Adingra. They are not the same kind of player and he's different from Drogba," Fae told Flashscore.

"He's a young player with a lot of talent. I just hope he continues to work hard because, at his age, consistent effort is crucial for improving day by day and year after year,” he added.

Fae also encouraged the Brighton and Hove Albion forward to strive for a starting spot at his club and aim for a career like Drogba’s.

"At the moment, he is not a regular starter at Brighton, so he must work hard to earn that position and continue his efforts, particularly as he still has limited international caps.

"He's a young international player, so he needs to stay focused and keep working hard to improve, aiming to build a career similar to Drogba's."

Adingra, a graduate of the Right to Dream Academy, is someone Fae is counting on as he looks to defend Ivory Coast's AFCON title in Morocco later this year.

"It's a pleasure for me to have him in my team because he brings a lot of positive qualities. I hope he continues to work hard to reach the top,” Fae admitted.

"He will be in great form for the upcoming (international) matches. Being nominated for the African Player of the Year at such a young age is a significant achievement too."

So far, Adingra has scored three goals in 18 international appearances for Ivory Coast.

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