Eriksson drops Kone, Fae and Yapi Yapo for WCup, includes Drogba and Toure brothers

Eriksson drops 2006 trio for World Cup

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast — Ivory Coast coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has cut striker Bakari Kone and midfielders Emerse Fae and Gilles Yapi Yapo from his World Cup squad.

Eriksson also left out Kanga Akale of Lens and defender Abdoulaye Meite of West Bromwich Albion when he announced his final 23-man group Tuesday for the tournament in South Africa.

Eriksson did include six forwards in an attacking squad: Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou of Chelsea, Portsmouth’s Aruna Dindane, Abdul Keita, Seydou Doumbia and Gervinho of Lille.

Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue and Toure brothers Kolo and Yaya are also on the squad.

But Kone, Fae and Yapi Yapo all miss out after representing the Elephants at the 2006 tournament in Germany.