Only 10 Serie A Players Depart for 2015 AFCON, Compared to 52 from Ligue 1
While France’s Ligue 1 has seen 52 of its African players depart for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off this Saturday, Italy’s Serie A has only released 10 players for the tournament in Equatorial Guinea.
Roma are the most affected Italian club, losing two key players: Seydou Keïta, captain of Mali, and Gervinho, the Ivorian forward known for his dribbling prowess.
Napoli will be without Faouzi Ghoulam, their left-back, who will represent Algeria. Joining him on the Algerian squad are Djamel Mesbah (Sampdoria), Saphir Taïder (Sassuolo), and Ishak Belfodil (Parma), making Algeria the most represented nation from Serie A with four players.
Udinese lost Emmanuel Badu (Ghana) and Molla Wagué (Mali), while Afriyie Acquah (Parma) also joined the Ghanaian national team.
Serie B is not completely spared either, as Lys Gomis of Trapani has departed to join the Senegalese national team.
Summary of Serie A and Serie B Players at the 2015 AFCON:
Afriyie Acquah (Ghana / Parma)
Emmanuel Badu (Ghana / Udinese)
Faouzi Ghoulam (Algeria / Napoli)
Djamel Mesbah (Algeria / Sampdoria)
Ishak Belfodil (Algeria / Parma)
Saphir Taïder (Algeria / Sassuolo)
Lys Gomis (Senegal / Trapani – Serie B)
Gervinho (Ivory Coast / Roma)
Seydou Keïta (Mali / Roma)
Molla Wagué (Mali / Udinese)
