Michael Essien getting FIFA recognition after role in 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup draw

Ex-Ghana international Michael Essien joined an elite group of football stars who participated in the draw for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Paris on Saturday.

Essien was selected alongside former footballers, Kaka, Luis Saha, Alex Scott, Steffi Jones, Aya Miyama, Mia Hamm, Marie Bochet and France national team coach, Didier Deschamps to held conduct the draw for the tournament, which comes off from June 7 to July 7 in France.

FIFA named the Ghanaian icon, who won two Premier League titles, UEFA Champions League and Europa League medals with Chelsea, among the legends who participated in the event at La Seine Musicale in Paris.

In August this year, he was invited to help in the 2018 FIFA U20 Women's World Cup which was also staged in France.

The Women’s World Cup France 2019 will take place across nine host cities namely, Grenoble, Le Havre, Lyon, Montpellier, Nice, Paris, Reims, Rennes and Valenciennes.

The opening match will be played in Parc des Princes in Paris on 7 June with the semi-finals and final set to be played in Lyon on July 2, 3 and 7 respectively.