Didier Drogba's concussion history decides major soccer tournament?
 

I was watching the final of the African Cup of Nations yesterday, the tournament to decide the champions of Africa - Zambia vs Ivory Coast. The Ivory Coast have a team full of superstars and were hot favourites. Their captain and talisman, Didier Drogba, sustained a horrible concussion in August 2011 playing for his club side, English premier league team Chelsea.

At the beginning of the second half Drogba sustained a very minor contact to the back of his head as he went up for a header. He fell down onto the ground and the physios were called on as the commentators berated his 'simulation' (ie faking that he had been fouled). A few minutes leter he was still down and a close-up showed a very confused look in his eyes. The commentators took their words back. "Sometimes with the head it's just how you get caught." Of course his concussion history was not mentioned or seemingly considered by anyone, and he remained on the pitch.

A few minutes later one of the Ivory Coast players was fouled in the penalty area and the referee gave a penalty kick, which for those not into 'soccer', almost always results in a goal. "Don't let Drogba take it" I helpfully advised the Ivorians through the television, however as the obvious penalty taker and captain Drogba did choose to take the penalty - and skied it miles over the crossbar. The score remained at 0-0 and Zambia went on to win the tournament in a penalty shoot out.

It's sad to think, given the problems many of us have had accepting our limitations, how hard it must be for a professional footballer earning £120,000 per week and an idol to millions to do the same. But all his wealth will seem hollow if his brain stops working.... I wish him well.

Drogba dragged a pretty lousy Chelsea team to three points today, and has actually looked in better form lately than he did to start the season, one of the few bright spots in a poor season for the club.

The goal itself was one of those reaction goals in the box, one touch, turned the keeper and into the net. As an amateur footballer myself, I know those things are pure instincts and reaction and reading the game at high speed, something a concussion wouldn't really allow.

His was a pretty bad concussion too, proper knocked out from a clean punch to the jaw while in mid air. I have to say though, the man looks fine to me.

He's celebrating his 34th birthday this weekend with a big charity event. Used to loathe him, but he's been a stand up citizen the past few years.

I saw the game too - I agree he's not 'concussed' as such, he isn't currently suffering from PCS or anything like that.

What I am saying is that from what I can see, due to his concussion history he is clearly more susceptible than other people to concussions. That impact I saw in the final of the African Cup of Nations was really nothing, but he went down as if he'd had a real bang, and took a few minutes before he could even stand up again.

Evidence from at risk groups jockeys and American footballers shows that if you have had one concussion, you will get others more easily, even after you seem to have made a 'full recovery'. This has certainly been the case in my life.

And I agree I like him a lot more recently. He has been much less annoying on the pitch and seems to really care about all the problems back in his home country, I wish him well.