Gambians fans who are hoping to see Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba in flesh and blood when his Elephants take on the Scorpions of The Gambia in a World Cup qualifier in Banjul later this year could be disappointed that they might never get the chance anymore.

The former Chelsea and Marseille forward gave his strongest indication yet that he might say bye-bye to international football despite the Elephants still in the middle of a Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifier.

The Ivorians will host the Scorpions in Abidjan next month in the first of a double header before the two sides square off against each other for the return leg in Banjul in June.

But speaking after his side's campaign at the 29th edition of the Africa Cup of Nation's came to an end following a quarterfinal defeat to Nigeria on Sunday, the new Galatasary SK signing says his country has to look forward to the World Cup qualifiers with or without him.

"We now look ahead to the World Cup, with or without me," said Drogba.

On his chances of winning a Nations Cup trophy, Drogba believes his chances of ever lifting the cup has disappeared for good after the 2-1 defeat by Nigeria on Sunday.

"It's over," the 34-year-old striker said in the wake of yet another failure by the so-called golden generation.

The trophy has eluded the Elephants since 1992 - the year they beat Ghana in a marathon penalty shoot-out. The Ivorians have twice been runners-up in the last four editions, and were semi-finalists in 2008.

For a fifth successive tournament, they were tipped to win the title with a squad boasting such talents as Drogba, Yaya Toure and Salomon Kalou. But Africa's top-ranked team once again failed to live up to expectation.