Didier Drogba is delighted at the news Sven-Goran Eriksson will lead the Ivory Coast to the World Cup in South Africa this summer.
The striker has been in prolific form for club and country this season, and is fully confident that the former England and Mexico manager has the pedigree to help the Elephants reach the latter stages of the summer tournament.
"There is no doubt Sven will succeed. This is someone who knows the game inside out," Drogba told Football365.co.za.
"I have every belief in his ability to take us far and even exceed the targets set for him by the Federation.
"With the little I saw of him while he was in England and what I have heard, read and watched about, I think Sven has come at the right time."
With the appointment coming just over a month after former manager Vahid Halilhodzic was dismissed, Drogba is pleased that someone, let alone a big name like Eriksson, has finally been appointed.
"This is like a wish come true for me and most of my colleagues," he said.
"For weeks and months we have been pondering over going to the World Cup without a coach but what we feared most has taken a different twist.
"Now I don't have to wake up every morning and think about the future of my team without a coach.
"Surely all things will work in line for us with Eriksson in charge.
"As a seasoned coach, he definitely knows how to pull in those surprises when least expected. We have a solid team and that alone solves half of his problem."
With the likes of Salomon Kalou, Emmanuel Eboue and the Toure brothers - Kolo and Yaya - to call upon, Drogba believes Eriksson's squad can become the first African winners of the World Cup and on Africa soil.
"The only problem he will face maybe will be the selection of a winning eleven out of a team full of talents," the Chelsea man said.
"We are going to South Africa to win big. This is not something I am saying alone. It is the general feeling when you talk to the other boys in our team."
Four years ago, the country failed to escape from the group stages after being hotly tipped to progress to at least the semi-finals. But Drogba believes that with Eriksson's expertise that will not happen again.
"Our performance in Germany was not up to what we set out to achieve," he said.
"We have to improve and play much better if we want the other teams to take us serious. This is not a tournament you can go and play just anyhow.
"It has to be better this time round and I hope Sven provides us with that spirit and direction."
The striker has been in prolific form for club and country this season, and is fully confident that the former England and Mexico manager has the pedigree to help the Elephants reach the latter stages of the summer tournament.
"There is no doubt Sven will succeed. This is someone who knows the game inside out," Drogba told Football365.co.za.
"I have every belief in his ability to take us far and even exceed the targets set for him by the Federation.
"With the little I saw of him while he was in England and what I have heard, read and watched about, I think Sven has come at the right time."
With the appointment coming just over a month after former manager Vahid Halilhodzic was dismissed, Drogba is pleased that someone, let alone a big name like Eriksson, has finally been appointed.
"This is like a wish come true for me and most of my colleagues," he said.
"For weeks and months we have been pondering over going to the World Cup without a coach but what we feared most has taken a different twist.
"Now I don't have to wake up every morning and think about the future of my team without a coach.
"Surely all things will work in line for us with Eriksson in charge.
"As a seasoned coach, he definitely knows how to pull in those surprises when least expected. We have a solid team and that alone solves half of his problem."
With the likes of Salomon Kalou, Emmanuel Eboue and the Toure brothers - Kolo and Yaya - to call upon, Drogba believes Eriksson's squad can become the first African winners of the World Cup and on Africa soil.
"The only problem he will face maybe will be the selection of a winning eleven out of a team full of talents," the Chelsea man said.
"We are going to South Africa to win big. This is not something I am saying alone. It is the general feeling when you talk to the other boys in our team."
Four years ago, the country failed to escape from the group stages after being hotly tipped to progress to at least the semi-finals. But Drogba believes that with Eriksson's expertise that will not happen again.
"Our performance in Germany was not up to what we set out to achieve," he said.
"We have to improve and play much better if we want the other teams to take us serious. This is not a tournament you can go and play just anyhow.
"It has to be better this time round and I hope Sven provides us with that spirit and direction."
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