Didier Drogba has been cleared to play with a protective cast in the Ivory Coast’s World Cup opener against Portugal on Tuesday.
The Chelsea front man had been a major doubt for the crucial game in Group G after he suffered a fractured arm in a pre-World Cup friendly against Japan.
The injury was picked up on June 4, with Drogba having surgery the following day as a mad dash ensued to get the Elephants' star man fit for the tournament and the key game with the Portuguese in Port Elizabeth.
Ivory Coast coach Sven Goran Eriksson then made the plea to Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda for Drogba to wear the lightweight protective cast in the game, so his key attacker can play despite the limb not having completely recovered, though he has, in fact, been named only as a substitute.
And on Tuesday morning FIFA's head of media Nicolas Maingot confirmed that the Ivorians had been given the green light, saying: "Regarding Didier Drogba, the referee of the match Jorge Larrionda has okayed the cast which Didier Drogba will use to play.
“The cast has been seen by the Portuguese delegation at yesterday's match co-ordination meeting."