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Ivory Coast plays host to the month long 34th edition of the African cup of Nations (AFCON).
The tournament which as always showcases the very best of players the continent has to offer is undoubtedly the pinnacle of the round leather game in Africa.
Expectedly, big names such as Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, current African player of the year Victor Osimhen, newly wedded Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly from defending champions Senegal amongst others are expected to grace the occasion.
ALSO READ: AFCON 2023: Jose Peseiro rues Super Eagles missed chances against Equatorial Guinea
However, there is still a strong contingent of players sitting this edition out owing to unfortunate injuries, fitness woes, selection worries and issues at club level.
Here we highlight some of the notable absentees:
THOMAS TEYE PARTEY
The Black Stars midfielder continues to struggle with injuries which has plagued the better part of his time with Arsenal FC. He sits out this edition with a hamstring injury which has kept him out of action since October with his last minutes of football coming in the 4-nil defeat to the USMNT that month.
The Ghanaian national team gaffer, Chris Houghton did confirm that he most likely would have been a part of the squad featuring in this tourney.
BRYAN MBEUMO
The Bees midfielder made his debut for the national team in September 2022, and has been a mainstay of Rigobert Song’s team. He was taken off just 13 minutes after scoring in the 2-1 defeat to Brighton in early December and has been sidelined with an ankle injury ever since.
He is accompanied by Bayern Munich’s Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting as the big name attacking absentees in the Cameroonian squad.
WILFRED ONYINYE NDIDI
Ndidi will be a big miss for the Super Eagles as they look to challenge for glory since their last cup triumph in 2013. Initially named as part of the 5 senior midfielders in Jose Peseiro’s final squad.
The African giants will be without their defensive shield as he is out for the next 12 weeks as confirmed by Italian manager Enzo Maresca. Royal Antwerp’s Alhassan Yussuf has now replaced him in the squad.
ABDUL FATTAWU ISSAHAKU
The electric Ghanaian forward was sandwiched in between country and club drama as he chose to remain with the Foxes so as to satisfy the conditions spelt out in his loan from Portuguese outfit Sporting CP.
In a twisting turn of events, he was red carded in their championship fixture with Coventry city which will keep him out of action till at least the 3rd of February.
ABDOULAYE DOUCOURE
The Malian midfielder has rediscovered his brilliant form since Sean Dyche’s arrival. With their 10 points deduction throwing them amidst relegation waters, the midfielder chose to remain at Goodison Park to help the Tofees avoid relegation.
Cheick Doucoure also joins him on the absentee list as he continues recuperation from his anterior cruciate ligament injury.
VICTOR OKOH BONIFACE
Red-hot Leverkusen forward and 4 times Bundesliga Rookie of the season winner Boniface is another absentee for the Super Eagles as he picked up an injury in camp.
The 23-year-old expressed his disappointment on social media having also missed the U-20 edition of the tournament back in the days with injury. He’s since been replaced by OGC Nice’s Terem Moffi.
Boniface’s might be covered for by Nigeria’s heavy offensive arsenal but surely a big miss for Xabi Alonso’s side as they commence their title run-in with Bayern Munich.
ERIC BERTRAND BAILLY
The former Manchester United defender has had the past couple of months tough with employers Besiktas releasing a statement about his training and commitment levels before eventually terminating his contract.
A return to Villareal CF was not enough to secure him a spot in Jean-Louis Gasset’s defensive contingent. The nation’s backline marshalled by Willy Boly, Evan N’dicka, Ousmane Diomande, Odilon Kossonou amongst others should be more than enough protection.
ADEBAYO ADELEYE
The Israeli based shot-stopper didn’t get the nod as part of the goalkeeping unit in the Super Eagles final selections and will definitely have to wait for his first international tournament.
With questions continually raised about who stands in between the sticks for the Nigerian national team since Vincent Enyeama’s retirement, it’s left to see what the department featuring Francis Uzoho, Ojo Olorunleke and Stanley Nwabili can conjure.
AFCON ABSENTEES XI:
ADELEYE; LAMPTEY, BAILLY, NDIDI, RAHMAN BABA; MBEUMO, PARTEY, DOUCOURE, ISSAHAKU; ZAHA, AWONIYI.
SUBSTITUTES – CHOUPO MOTING, CHEICK DOUCOURE,
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