Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo faces a formidable challenge as he contends with a severe ankle injury that threatens his chances of participating in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Mbeumo sustained the injury during Brentford’s 2-1 defeat against Brighton on Wednesday, leaving him sidelined for several weeks. As the Bees anticipate the return of Ivan Toney to their lineup in mid-January, Mbeumo is racing against time to regain fitness and secure a spot in Cameroon’s squad for the AFCON, commencing on January 13th.
Manager Thomas Frank provided an update on Mbeumo’s condition, stating, “He rolled his ankle. It is bad — I don’t know how bad. We don’t have the exact number of weeks. He will definitely be out for Saturday [away at Sheffield United] and for weeks.”
Frank acknowledged the challenge of replacing Mbeumo and emphasized the unpredictable nature of football. “Yes, but it was also hard to replace Ivan [Toney]. We normally find a way. That’s football and it happens sometimes. We will find a solution. There are other players who can step up,” he remarked.
Expressing his frustration at the setback, Frank highlighted the inherent unpredictability of the sport. “Football is such a marginal game. Hit the post, inside the post, outside the post, deflection: there are so many things you can’t control, like injuries,” he added.
The Bees will now strive to cope with Mbeumo’s absence and focus on potential solutions to fill the void left by his injury. With AFCON drawing closer, Mbeumo faces an uphill battle to recover in time and make his case for a spot in Cameroon’s squad for the highly anticipated tournament.
