Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba requests Fifa relax rules to assist loan move from Shanghai Shenhu If Fifa grants Drogba's request, the 34 year-old Ivory Coast captain could play for a new team to prepare for the African Cup of Nations, which starts on Jan 19 in South Africa - existing rules prevent Drogba from representing another club until Jan 1. Drogba signed a contract running until 2014 with Shanghai Shenhua weeks after helping Chelsea win the Champions League title in May. The Ivorian scored an 88th-minute equaliser against Bayern Munich before hitting the decisive penalty in the shootout. Should Fifa relent and Drogba return to Stamford Bridge he would be ineligible for their final Champions League group game Nordsjaelland on Dec 5 as teams must register their squad lists for the group stage with Uefa in September before their opening match.