By Yasine Mohabuth BBC Sport, Mauritius

The Ivory Coast coach Uli Stielike has praised Didier Drogba

The Ivory Coast's German coach Uli Stielike has hailed Didier Drogba after the striker won the 2006 African Footballer of the Year award on Thursday.

Stielike was talking from Mauritius where he is with the rest of the Elephants' technical team finalising the details of the squad's training camp on the island from 19 to 22 March.

"Usually I do not talk about my players as I respect all other members of the squad," he said.

"He is a remarkable striker always keen to help his colleagues but also the needy.

"He is an idol in the eyes of all the youth of Ivory Coast and deserved it."

Stielike added that the training camp in Mauritius will be key ahead of their Group 4 qualifier for the 2008 African Cup of Nations against Madagascar on 25 March in Antananarivo.

"There are only three teams in our group and that means we have to beat our opponents to qualify and came top of the group," he explained.

The Elephants will play a friendly against Mauritius on 21 March at the Anjalay Stadium in the northern part of the island.